ROME, Feb. 15 (Xinhua) -- The recent gathering of far-right leaders and party figures from across Europe has highlighted a significant rift in the continent's political scene.

The Patriots for Europe (PfE) summit, held earlier this month in Madrid, Spain, attracted more than 2,000 participants. It was the coalition's first large-scale assembly after it became the third-largest political group in the European Parliament.

During the summit, representatives of far-right political parties openly promoted their anti-European Union, anti-immigration and anti-liberal elite stances.

The rise of far-right political forces has significantly reshaped Europe's political landscape in recent years.

In France, the National Rally surged from single-digit parliamentary seats in 2017 to over 120 seats in 2024, forming a three-way power balance with President Emmanuel Macron's camp and the left-wing bloc. In December 2024, a coalition between the far-right and leftist forces toppled Prime Minister Michel Barnier's government, leading to France's first budgetary impasse in 45 years and exposing the fragility of the ruling alliance.

Germany is also grappling with political upheaval. The latest polls indicate that the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party maintains a support rate of 20 percent ahead of the federal elections, surpassing the ruling Social Democratic Party and becoming the second-largest political force.

The far right's rise is rooted in a combination of economic, social, and political crises. High inflation and energy shortages, on top of problems stemming from immigration, have been blamed for the erosion of trust in traditional parties, especially given the perceived inability of mainstream parties to address these challenges. Nationalist and anti-immigrant sentiments have witnessed growing appeal across Europe.

In Germany, public dissatisfaction with the governing coalition, energy crises and immigration policies has fueled AfD's expansion. In France, the National Rally has leveraged social unrest against Macron's reforms to expand its political influence.

According to research by the U.S. think tank Council on Foreign Relations, the expansion of far-right groups contributes to the fragmentation of Europe's political landscape. Their emphasis on national sovereignty over EU integration threatens European unity and decision-making.

The growing influence of France's National Rally and Germany's AfD has already forced mainstream parties to adopt more conservative stances on immigration and environmental policies.

Analysts caution that if far-right forces continue to gain ground, Europe could face profound institutional challenges, putting the future of European integration in doubt. Enditem

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