Rise of the far-right

The Eurozone crisis and resulting austerity has triggered a rise in nationalist parties across Europe. On October 10,French President Francois Hollande warned that Europe risks regression and paralysis if Eurosceptics and nationalists gain the upper hand

NORWAY

Norways Progress Party,which has been described as right-wing,formed the government in September 2013 in coalition with the Conservative Party. The party is for a stricter immigration policy and has called to avoid illiterates and other poorly resourced groups. It is also the party to which Anders Behring Breivik,responsible for a massacre that killed 77 in 2011,belonged.

GREECE

Golden Dawn,Greeces third-most popular political party,which has been described as neo-Nazi and fiercely anti-immigrant in its stance,has been recently facing a severe government crackdown,after it was linked to the murder of a left-wing rapper,Pavlov Fissas,in September this year. The Greek government not only arrested the partys leader and other top members,but is also pursuing legislation to stop funding for the party. Golden Dawn had won around 7 per cent of the vote and 18 seats,mostly in Athens,in the parliamentary elections of 2012.

FRANCE

Frances radical right party,the National Front FN,an economically protectionist and socially conservative party,won 15 per cent of the national vote in 2011 by blaming the Socialist Party for economic mismanagement. FN has spoken out against Islamisation of France and against immigrants. Earlier this year,a left-wing activist,Clement Meric,was killed in a bar by a right-wing extremist. Last week,a 15-year-old girl was ordered off a school bus and deported with her family to Kosovo. The government was criticised for the way the matter was handled.

HUNGARY

A whole subculture of nationalist politics exists and flourishes,and many who support its leading right-wing party,Jobbik,do so on the basis of its policy against immigrants. The party describes itself as a principled,conservative and radically patriotic Christian party. Jobbik supporters,have,in the past campaigned against the countrys immigrant population from Central and Eastern Europe and blamed them for the countrys problems. The party describes itself as anti-EU,anti-Semitic and anti-Roma and has thrived since the financial crisis.

NETHERLANDS

The far-right Party for Freedom PVV is an anti-Islam group that opposes Euro zone bailouts,speaks out against immigrants and has even called for a ban on the Koran. In the 2010 elections,it garnered enough votes to become the third largest Dutch party. Its popularity has prompted more mainstream parties too to adopt many of its ideas,such as a ban on burqas and on double citizenship. Its programme includes administrative detention. The controversial leader of the PVV,Geert Wilders,plans to create an alliance of far-right parties in Europe.