Europe’s far-right forges axis as crucial elections loom

Global Business

“If Donald Trump can do it, so can we.” That was the message from Europe’s right-wing leaders who met over the weekend.

With key elections looming in France, then Germany, they see opportunity to upend the European Union.

CGTN’s Owen Fairclough reports.

Far right leaders from across Europe uniting in Germany, sensing this is their moment.

That populist tide has just swept U.S. President Donald Trump into the White House – an inspiration for these leaders.

Marine Le Pen, the leader of the once-fringe National Front party, is now a contender in May’s French Presidential election.

The right-wing nationalist party, Alternative for Germany, said it has a chance to beat Angela Merkel out of a fourth term as Chancellor in September with anti-immigration and anti-European Union policies.

Protesters who rallied outside the meeting remember European populism has been done, with devastating results.

Over in France, the left is choosing its candidate to challenge Le Pen. It’s an opportunity for another relative outsider to shake things up, even if there’s little optimism.

Hamon will face a second round runoff against former French Prime Minister Manuel Valls on January 29th to choose a Socialist candidate.


Dominic Thomas discusses the France election impact

To learn more about the potential economy impact of the France election, CGTN’s Rachelle Akuffo spoke with Dominic Thomas, chair of French Studies at UCLA.