Marine Le Pen, leader of France’s National Rally, praised the growing success of anti-migration and eurosceptic movements across Europe following the Freedom Party of Austria’s (FPO) historic win in the country’s general election. Le Pen hailed the victory as a clear message of national sovereignty triumphing over what she perceives as Brussels’ overreach into the affairs of individual European nations.

 

Eurosceptic leaders across the continent echoed Le Pen’s sentiments, congratulating Herbert Kickl, the FPO’s leader, on the party’s first-ever election victory. They framed the success as part of a larger shift in Europe, where populist and nationalist forces are pushing back against pro-European Union policies. Le Pen remarked, “After the Italian, Dutch, and French elections, this groundswell which carries the defense of national interests, the safeguarding of identities and the resurrection of sovereignties, confirms everywhere the triumph of the peoples.”

 

Le Pen’s National Rally, which has long opposed immigration and promoted nationalistic policies, is allied with the FPO in the European Parliament. Her own victory in France’s European elections earlier this year was so impactful that President Emmanuel Macron called for snap elections, resulting in a right-wing government being formed. The rise of anti-migration and eurosceptic parties, including Le Pen’s, signals a growing challenge to the European Union’s influence and control over member states.

 

Le Pen’s vision aligns with the goals of the Patriots for Europe, a coalition determined to restore powers from Brussels to national governments and fundamentally reform the European Union. This movement is gaining momentum in various countries, with the Freedom Party’s triumph being the latest sign of this shift.

 

Eurosceptic leaders from other countries were quick to express their enthusiasm. Geert Wilders, the long-time eurosceptic leader in the Netherlands, celebrated the FPO’s victory alongside his own successes. Wilders, who led his Party for Freedom to a major victory in the Dutch elections last year, also seeks to challenge EU influence, although his controversial stance on issues such as a potential "Nexit" and banning the Koran prevented him from becoming prime minister. On the social media platform X, Wilders declared, “The Netherlands, Hungary, Belgium, Italy, Germany, Portugal, Sweden, France, Spain, Czech Republic, and today Austria! We are winning! Times are changing! Identity, sovereignty, freedom, and no more illegal immigration/asylum is what tens of millions of Europeans long for.”

 

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who has often clashed with Brussels over migration and other issues of sovereignty, also congratulated Kickl and the FPO, declaring, “Another win for the Patriots: a historic victory for FPO in Austria! Congratulations to Herbert Kickl!”

 

Both Kickl and Orbán have been known for their opposition to immigration, and their governments are friendly toward Russia, a stance that has further distanced them from EU leadership. The FPO’s platform also echoes these positions, highlighting concerns over open borders and mass immigration. Their manifesto expressed a belief that Austria’s sovereignty is being eroded by the European Union, stating, “The government of the state is increasingly no longer in Vienna, but in Brussels. The space of the state is being eliminated by the de facto principle of open borders. The people of the state are gradually being replaced by permanent mass immigration.”

 

Under the leadership of 55-year-old Kickl, the Freedom Party won 28.8% of the vote, surpassing the center-right Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) at 26.3% and the center-left Social Democrats (SPÖ), who secured 21.1%, according to exit polls. Reflecting on the party’s historic performance, Kickl remarked, “We’ve made Austrian history because it’s the first time the Freedom Party is number one in a parliamentary election, and you have to think how far we’ve come.”

 

This victory for the FPO, a party originally founded in the 1950s by a former Nazi lawmaker, signifies a remarkable political transformation and illustrates the increasing appeal of nationalist, anti-immigration platforms across Europe. The rise of these forces could reshape the political landscape of the continent in the years to come, as more and more nations gravitate toward movements that prioritize sovereignty, identity, and restrictive immigration policies.

 

Based on a report from: Daily Telegraph 2024-10-02

 

 

 

Had the center parties done something sensible about illegal immigration, Le Pen and the other right wingers would never be winning in one Euro country after another.

 

It's entirely on them, IMO.

Another fantastic, strong, brilliant woman.

 

Best of luck to her, she's in the crosshairs of the left now and we've all seen in the US how they like to use lawfare against political opponents.