Europe’s far-right eyes Trump’s return with optimism

As Donald Trump edges closer to a second term in office, his rise is being closely watched by far-right leaders across Europe, many of whom have long admired the former US president’s populist, nationalist agenda, The Guardian highlights. 

In the end, Viktor Orbán did not, as he had promised, celebrate Donald Trump’s victory with “several bottles of champagne.” He was in Kyrgyzstan at the time and explained, “where they have different traditions,” so he settled for vodka instead. Nevertheless, Orbán still described it as a “fantastic result.”

“History has accelerated,” Orbán declared triumphantly at an EU summit in Budapest last week. “The world is going to change, and change more rapidly than before. Obviously, it’s a great opportunity for Hungary to forge a close partnership and alliance with the US.”

Hungary’s illiberal prime minister – who is also considered the EU’s chief disruptor and has been praised by Trump as a “very great leader, a very strong man” – was not the only leader from Europe’s nationalist right to celebrate the president-elect’s unexpectedly large victory.

Geert Wilders, the Dutch anti-Muslim firebrand whose Freedom Party topped last year’s elections and now leads the ruling coalition, also sent his congratulations, enthusiastically urging Trump to “never stop, always keep fighting.”

Italy’s Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, praised the “historic friendship” between their countries, emphasizing that it would “now grow even stronger.” Meanwhile, Alice Weidel of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) celebrated Trump’s win as a blow to “woke Hollywood,” adding that Trump “is a model for us.”

For Europe’s rapidly advancing far-right parties, which hold power in eight EU member states and are gaining ground in others, Trump has long been seen as a key ally who shares their populist, nation-first, conservative, Eurosceptic, and anti-immigration positions.

But what can they actually expect to gain from a second Trump presidency? Despite their enthusiastic support, analysts and diplomats suggest that Europe’s mini-Trumps may not benefit much—and could even find themselves in a worse position. Some of them seem to be aware of this reality.

While there may be some political advantages to basking in the reflected glory of Trump’s victory, experts at the Centre for European Reform think tank noted, “The coming Trump presidency will most probably embolden Europe’s far right and illiberal actors.”

“Trump will strengthen far-right parties not just by normalizing and amplifying their ideas, but by boosting their electability,” the experts concluded. His win legitimizes their grievances and solidifies their sovereigntist vision; it feels like history is moving in their direction.

In addition to Orbán, Meloni, Wilders, and Weidel, long-time Trump admirers in Europe include Marine Le Pen of France’s National Rally (RN), Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer, and Serbia’s Aleksandar Vučić.

They may be joined next year by Andrej Babiš in the Czech Republic, and with both France and Germany, the EU’s traditional powerhouses, weakened by domestic political crises, their influence is clearly on the rise.

By Naila Huseynova