The rise of the extreme right in the Swedish elections and the predictable victory of a coalition led by the heirs of neo-fascism in Italy outline a new political landscape in a Europe destabilized by war, the energy crisis and the resulting inflation, when we are barely out of the pandemic. To which should be added the disappearance of the traditional parties in a France where Macron only survives because he is the lesser evil, the relevance of Vox in the Spanish right, the leadership of the nationalist Truss in the English conservatives, the hegemony of the extreme right in Hungary and Poland and the fragility of government coalitions in most countries, starting with Germany.
The political process of each country is idiosyncratic, but there are two highly significant common factors.
The first is the normalization of extreme ideologies in the political system and in an important part of the citizenry. In Sweden they had already added the rights to govern. But the moderate parties refused to agree with the Sweden Democrats, of neo-Nazi origin although now they dress as a Lagarterana. Why are they accepted now? Because now they are the second party in Sweden with more than 20% of the vote while before they had 5%. The red line was broken to isolate extremism because it represents many people. Why? Rejection of immigration is one factor, but even more important is insecurity and fear. Fear of crime and violence between gangs that go around shooting in the streets, a violence blamed on immigration and ethnic minorities. There is a clamor to impose order at all costs. In addition, rural areas, ethnically homogeneous and repositories of traditional values, feel marginalized and have supported the proclamation of the nationalist leader Akesson of "Sweden first", mimicking Trump.
The second factor, even more pronounced in Italy, is the widespread popular rejection of the political class, especially among young people. The “they do not represent us” is exacerbated when there are serious problems, as is currently the case, that require measures with a social cost. The Italian political system was already in a deep crisis that led the government to the M5E, precisely the party that led the criticism of traditional politics. When it split, it lost credibility. And it is that this extreme right is not anti-economic system (on the contrary), but rather anti-political system. It is essential that we do not confuse the two anti-systems. Because the criticism of an unjust economic system is represented by the left in various ways. To the anti-politics of the extreme right is added the opposition to the new values of feminism, environmentalism and solidarity, considered elitist. Ultimately, the European Union, founded on these values, is called into question.
The rise of the extreme right penetrates and transforms the traditional right in search of survival. Hence the growing polarization of politics, which extends to society and makes it increasingly difficult for us to live together.
