The disturbing advance by the far-right in Britain, France and Denmark in this week's European elections has been linked to a reaction against established politics. Specifically, it is against two political convergences by the mainstream left and right. First, over neoliberal economic and social policy, which has led to greater inequality, insecurity and poverty, particularly under austerity; and second, over the undesirability of immigration. The former has led to a growing detachment from politics for many; the latter has helped to usher the least liberal of the disengaged into the hands of those posing as the anti-establishment.
Fortunately, the latest elections confirm that detachment from the traditional political order does not just go rightwards. In Greece it was the radical-left party Syriza that topped the poll with 27%, leaving the once-dominant Pasok with 8%. In Portugal and the Netherlands opposition socialist parties overtook those in the centre.
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