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Far-Right Parties Gain in European Parliament Elections: Austria, Germany See 16.5% Surge

Jun 9, 2024, 03:57 PM

The European Parliament elections have seen a significant shift to the right, with far-right parties making substantial gains. Exit polls indicate that the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) has risen to 16.5%, up from 11% in 2019, placing it in second position. Austria's far-right Freedom Party is projected to win the European Parliament election for the first time. The German SPD, part of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's coalition, suffered a historic defeat, crashing to 14%, its worst-ever result, falling to third place behind the AfD. This shift reflects a fragmenting political landscape in Europe, with right and far-right parties gaining influence. Over 373 million Europeans were eligible to vote. The Greens accounted for 8.5% of the decline in Scholz’s coalition.