Young Voters May Lead the Right to Big Wins in Europe

Young voters could propel right-wing parties to significant victories in Europe. Discontent with current policies on immigration, economy, and social issues is driving this demographic toward conservative and populist movements, potentially reshaping the continent's political landscape.

In Belgium, and some other nations, the voting age for these elections has been lowered to 16

As Europeans prepare to vote over four days across 27 countries to elect a new European Parliament, millions of young people will be participating for the first time. In some nations, the voting age has been lowered to 16, allowing minors in Belgium, Germany, Austria, Greece, and Malta to vote in these elections.

“This is a significant opportunity for us, as it gives us a voice we’ve never had before,” says Mare Verlinde, a 17-year-old student from Belgium. Her friend, Auguste Duchene, adds, “I think Europe needs to step up and become stronger – we can’t always depend on NATO.”

For this group of friends and many of their peers, these European elections are crucial for security. They were raised with the belief that Europe was safe, but that belief has faded over the past two years.

Lore Sleeckx, 17, is particularly concerned about the possibility of war in Europe. “My history teachers say they wouldn’t be surprised if a world war happens in the future,” she says, with her friends nodding in agreement. “That really scares me.”

In the 2019 European elections, there was a remarkable turnout of young voters, who overwhelmingly supported green parties advocating robust climate policies. This surge was celebrated as a "Green wave." However, in politics, five years can bring significant change.

According to polls, an unprecedented number of young voters are now considering voting for right-wing and far-right parties, many of which hold Eurosceptic views.

“We want to shake up the status quo, which is why many of my peers are leaning towards the right,” says Bence Szabó, as he participates in an anti-EU farmers protest in Brussels. Amidst the sound of tractors, he explains, “There's a perception that everything from the right is being unfairly criticized, but we believe we can address the issues that the left has tried and failed to solve.”

The concerns of young Europeans are diverse, but this generation, having grown up during the Covid pandemic, is anxious about various issues: the prospect of war in Europe, climate change, an uncertain job market, and the lack of affordable housing.

“We're not extremists. We're just frustrated,” explains Lazar Potrebic, a 25-year-old from a Hungarian minority in Serbia who is eligible to vote. He, like many of his peers, is deeply concerned about the future and feels that traditional parties are not addressing their worries.

“We feel neglected. Our age group is facing significant life milestones. We're starting our careers, thinking about starting families…but across Europe, rent prices are soaring, and finding employment is challenging.”

The sentiment of being unheard or marginalized in youth isn't novel. However, many far-right parties are actively seeking the support of young voters, as noted by Dave Sinardet, a political science professor at the Free University of Brussels.

“The radical right taps into anti-establishment sentiments,” he explains to the BBC. “They embrace a somewhat rebellious attitude, particularly with their anti-woke agenda, which resonates with young people.”

For leaders like Santiago Abascal of Spain’s Vox party, the focus lies on contentious issues such as transgender rights and abortion.

Migration is another significant factor driving young voters towards the right. Last year witnessed around 380,000 illegal crossings of the EU's borders, marking the highest figure since 2016.

Giorgio, a 28-year-old Italian, believes the EU's approach to migration has been too lenient. He intends to vote for Giorgia Meloni’s Brothers of Italy, arguably one of the far right’s notable success stories in Europe. Giorgio advocates for an EU migration policy akin to that of Hungary, Slovakia, and Poland, all of which have contested the EU’s new migration pact, offering dissenting countries the option to financially contribute instead of accepting new arrivals.

“They faced harsh criticism for erecting fences, but the truth is, the EU's current approach isn't effective," Giorgio remarks. "We're unaware of who's entering: individuals slip through the cracks, potentially with criminal records, compromising Europe's security.”

Far-right politicians are excelling in capturing youth attention online, boasting an unmatched social media strategy.

French politician Jordan Bardella, the charismatic 28-year-old leader of the National Rally, exemplifies this trend. With 1.2 million TikTok followers, he's making his party attractive to France's youth, one selfie video at a time. A survey indicates that 36% of French people under 24 support him.

“TikTok and Instagram are platforms suited for the type of messages the radical right wants to disseminate,” explains Dave Sinardet. “Simplistic, one-sided videos on issues like migration, security, and gender.”

In Italy, Matteo Salvini of the far-right League campaigns on Instagram with the slogan “Less Europe, more Italy,” sharing AI-generated images implying that “more Europe” leads to absurd scenarios like being forced to eat insects or men with Jesus-like beards giving birth. Such messages evoke an emotional response, effectively amplified by algorithms, especially on TikTok.

“Investing in social media early on has paid off for the far right,” notes Prof Sinardet. “Now, they are reaping the rewards.”

More than six in ten young EU citizens express their intention to vote in the upcoming European elections. Instead of a “green wave,” they could play a pivotal role in ushering in the most significant rightward shift since the EU's inception. This could fundamentally alter Europe's agenda on issues like climate, migration, and support for Ukraine.

Bence Szabó from Hungary believes this will result in an EU legislature more aligned with the younger generation's priorities.

At least, that's the promise they make on TikTok.

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