Why young Europeans are turning towards the far right
The Guardian Weekly|December 08, 2023
Housing, health and economic fears, not cultural factors, are pushing many younger voters towards political extremes
Jon Henley & Pjotr Sauer
Why young Europeans are turning towards the far right

Lunching on a sandwich in the central market of Volendam, a port north of Amsterdam, Gerald, 24, was lucid about his choice in last month's Dutch election.

"I voted for Wilders, and many of my friends did too," he said. "I don't want to live with my parents forever. I want my own home, and to be able to provide for my family later on. Wilders wants to figure out the housing crisis and make our healthcare better. Those are the most important topics for me."

If everyone who voted in the election were aged under 35, Geert Wilders, the far-right populist whose Party for Freedom (PVV) shocked Europe by winning the most parliamentary seats, would have won even more. 

In last year's French presidential runoff, Marine Le Pen won 39% of votes from people aged 18-24 and 49% of those aged 25-34. Before Italy's election in September last year, Giorgia Meloni's Brothers of Italy was the largest party among under-35s, on 22%.

Across Europe, the image of the radical-right voter - typically white, male, non-graduate, and old - is changing, and studies suggest that in several countries, support for the far right is growing fastest among younger voters.

Several factors may explain the phenomenon, analysts say. "We really should be careful about assuming a cultural or ideological alignment between young voters and the far right," said Catherine de Vries, a political scientist at Italy's Bocconi University.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der December 08, 2023-Ausgabe von The Guardian Weekly.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der December 08, 2023-Ausgabe von The Guardian Weekly.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

WEITERE ARTIKEL AUS THE GUARDIAN WEEKLYAlle anzeigen
Beauty, shock and horror
The Guardian Weekly

Beauty, shock and horror

At the British Museum, Hew Locke places his work alongside art and artefacts plundered by colonisers from the peoples and cultures they destroyed

time-read
4 Minuten  |
October 25, 2024
Sleep on it pon
The Guardian Weekly

Sleep on it pon

Everyone wants a good night's rest-but the more you obsess over it, the more elusive it becomes. Anita Chaudhuri enters the nightmarish, data-driven world of orthosomnia

time-read
7 Minuten  |
October 25, 2024
JOURNALIST OR RUSSIAN SPY? THE STRANGE CASE OF PABLO GONZÁLEZ
The Guardian Weekly

JOURNALIST OR RUSSIAN SPY? THE STRANGE CASE OF PABLO GONZÁLEZ

while reporting on Russia's covert operation to annex Crimea, I spotted a familiar figure. With his muscular build and shiny shaved head, Pablo González was easy to recognise from afar.

time-read
10+ Minuten  |
October 25, 2024
'My hero' Worldwide solidarity for Pelicot's courage
The Guardian Weekly

'My hero' Worldwide solidarity for Pelicot's courage

She has been hailed as a feminist hero across France, commended for her courage at rallies across the country and applauded by supporters each time she has entered or left the courtroom in the southern city of Avignon.

time-read
3 Minuten  |
October 25, 2024
Revealed The international 'race science' network funded by US tech boss
The Guardian Weekly

Revealed The international 'race science' network funded by US tech boss

Group promoting 'dangerous' scientific racism ideology teamed up with German rightwing extremist, secret recordings show

time-read
7 Minuten  |
October 25, 2024
Residents count cost of a climate risk hotspot
The Guardian Weekly

Residents count cost of a climate risk hotspot

Damage to northern region ignites debate in acountry where just 6% are insured against natural disaster

time-read
4 Minuten  |
October 25, 2024
A new England The next coach is German and it really, really doesn't matter
The Guardian Weekly

A new England The next coach is German and it really, really doesn't matter

While objectivity has never had much place in English football, Thomas Tuchel's appointment as the new national team coach represents a significant departure in two obvious ways.

time-read
2 Minuten  |
October 25, 2024
Are Earth's carbon sinks collapsing?
The Guardian Weekly

Are Earth's carbon sinks collapsing?

Scientists fear that as it heats up, the planet is losing its natural ability to absorb CO2 through oceans, forests and soil

time-read
6 Minuten  |
October 25, 2024
UK is waging proxy war, says Russian ambassador
The Guardian Weekly

UK is waging proxy war, says Russian ambassador

Moscow's ambassador to London has said the UK is waging a proxy war against Russia while predicting the \"end of Ukraine\".

time-read
2 Minuten  |
October 25, 2024
Small and lethal Adapted drones carrying explosives 'hunt' civilians
The Guardian Weekly

Small and lethal Adapted drones carrying explosives 'hunt' civilians

Sasha Ustenko has survived three attacks by the Russian drones that stalk the streets of Kherson carrying fragmentation grenades to drop on anything that moves.

time-read
4 Minuten  |
October 25, 2024