Until ten years ago, European populist parties, regardless of their internal politics, were united by a strong opposition to the European Union (EU) and a desire to either dismantle or exit the EU.
The EP election has been interpreted as a swing in an non-liberal direction, as ‘right-wing’ parties in Europe have made significant gains, while the share of votes for liberal parties, including Renew, has declined.
The Authoritarian Populism Index offers a comprehensive overview of the major ideological trends in European politics, focusing on parties advocating illiberal and authoritarian ideologies.
‘The future of the Balkans is within the European Union’ – we now know that this statement made after the Thessaloniki Summit in 2003 was more of a sentimental outcry than an actual call to action.