European Citizens Demand a Shift to the Right
Far-right parties in France and Germany surged to historic levels in municipal and state elections, with the RN and AfD capitalizing on voter frustration over migration, economic hardship, and the perceived failures of traditional parties to address citizens' concerns.
Last Sunday, the second round of municipal elections in France and the state ballots in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany sent a clear message.
The RN (Rassemblement National) led by Jordan Bardella and the AfD (Alternative für Deutschland) recorded a historic rise in their vote shares, turning citizens’ frustration into political power. The results are not merely local; they reveal a clear momentum and serve as a harbinger for the 2027 elections in France and the federal elections in Germany.
In France, the RN and its allies achieved historic percentages, as stated by Bardella. Although the Left retained Paris, Marseille, and Lyon through alliances, the RN won Carcassonne, while RN ally Éric Ciotti was elected mayor of Nice.
In Marseille, RN candidate Frank Alissio garnered 39%, double previous performances, while in dozens of small and medium-sized cities, the RN and its allies recorded double-digit gains. Voter turnout reached 57%. Marine Le Pen described this as a “victory of the popular Right.”
On the same day, in Rhineland-Palatinate, the AfD more than doubled its vote share, receiving 19.5% (up from 8.3% in 2021) — the highest percentage it has ever achieved in a western German state. Gordon Schnieder’s CDU won with 31%, the SPD collapsed to 25.9%, while the Greens and FDP remained out of the parliament. Although Schnieder ruled out any possible cooperation, the AfD emerged as the third largest force and now sets the agenda.
This rise is not accidental. It is directly connected to citizens’ daily concerns: mass migration and lack of border control, economic pressure (inflation, energy crisis, high interest rates), insecurity in neighborhoods, and the failure of traditional parties to solve citizens’ problems.
Macron in France and the “Semafor government” in Germany failed to provide solutions, leaving millions of citizens feeling abandoned. RN and AfD converted this anger into votes by advocating for stricter borders, prioritizing locals, and returning to national sovereignty.
Europe is entering a new era. The RN is now the favorite for the 2027 presidential elections, while the AfD is shaping the political landscape across Germany. The rise of the Right is not a threat. It is the voice of citizens demanding a change of course.
