Giorgia Meloni, the New Face of the Far Right

Extreme right politicians were, most of the time, unsuccessful in the past. People of Europe weren’t convinced of the specific ideology brought up by extremists, heavily relying on their previous political beliefs and dependence. However, after living in such an unpredictable and unstable world, after encountering numerous social problems and wrongful tips of the global economy, there has been a change in some people’s minds. They no longer hope for a world of pure democracy and peaceful standings. These actions of pursuit have caused a rise in the emergence of extreme right politicians, especially in the continent of Europe. It inevitably appears to cause a change in various fields and areas of the EU. Not just changes but harmful modifications.

Dominant economies of the EU primarily prioritize ideals such as freedom, equality, or internationalism. It means that their beliefs hold the opposing status to those right-wing extremists. Conflicts can be resolved through discussions and tolerances, but they will still cause a threat to those dominant economies since they no longer have as much public support. It will be challenging to maintain their dominance and power as the emergence of the new-colored people will bring small but significant changes in their minds. These changes may seem healthy and idealistic for society, but it doesn’t always benefit the primary economies of the EU.

The extreme right has risen to be the major political force in France and has become the second-largest party in Sweden. Also, it is the largest party in the ruling coalition in Italy. At the center, Giorgia Meloni, from Brothers of Italy, became Italy's first female prime minister and the first extreme-right leader to take power since World War II. The extreme-right force, previously regarded as the periphery of politics, has been reborn as the mainstream, now establishing itself as the ruling force of Italy, the third-largest economy in the Eurozone. The factor that the right-wing coalition won is complex, but it is analyzed that the worst inflation had given a decisive impact on the vote. Italy saw consumer prices rise 9.0% in August from a year earlier, continuing their surge following 8.4% in July. Italy's far-right forces made the most of voters' frustration in the election campaign, including soaring energy and food prices and reduced purchasing power.

The rise of far-rightism across Europe can be seen as adding to the negative factor of the Ukrainian war and the burden of living costs caused by soaring prices. The failure to control inflation has left European citizens dissatisfied with their government and the European Union (EU) system.

After all, the revival of extreme-right forces associated with populism is seen in European society, and a potential threat obscured by economic problems will come.

To fully investigate the potential threat the emergence of extreme right politicians may pose to the dominant economies of the EU, one must first discern the doctrines of the extreme right. One major characteristic is that they tend to marginalize social minorities, by applying a majority vs. minority dynamic. Following the same train of thought, the characteristic economic model of the right-wing is neoliberalism. Such a mindset especially stands out when it comes to immigrant policies.

Minorities, especially immigrants, are being targeted as the ‘enemy’ of the European economies. The fear of these new demographics stealing the old’s places is dire. In extreme right-wing governments, subsidies for immigration integration are significantly cut. This not only includes accepting refugees but also cutbacks on the funds for education and training for immigrants who have already settled in these countries. In Belgium, where 16.5% of its population are first-generation immigrants and 13.7% are second-generation immigrants, immigration over the last five years had a positive impact on GDP, increasing it by 3.2% (The Economic Impact of Immigration in Belgium). In most countries of the EU, the economy heavily relies on the immigrant workforce. Policies by extreme right-wing governments ostracize immigrants, only making the integration of immigrants into the labor market harder. This outcome is the direct opposite of their objective to stop spending taxes on immigrant policies.

Although prioritizing its citizens may have its advantages and necessities, one must be aware that the prime reason why human beings formed a society in the first place is to safeguard one another’s rights. Namely, the objective of the social contract was to establish a system in which people treat others equally, respecting each other’s sanctity. Thus, one must not fall into the trap of believing one’s self-interest is the top priority.