EU Confidential: Inside Europe’s Far Right — Going Pro and Going Strong

Episode Date: November 21, 2025
Host: Sarah Wheaton (POLITICO Chief Policy Correspondent)
Panelists: Marianne Gros (Sustainability Reporter), Max Guerrera (European Parliament Expert), Tim Ross (Chief Political Correspondent, London)
Special Report: Aitor Hernandez Morales (Denmark local elections)

Main Theme and Purpose

This episode of EU Confidential investigates the dramatic crumbling of the “cordon sanitaire” in the European Parliament, as the center-right EPP joined forces with the far right to pass a major law. The panel analyzes what happens when the far right shifts from protest to real power, the collapse (or recalibration) of traditional centrist coalitions in Brussels, and how these parliamentary shifts are mirrored – or contradicted – in national and local elections elsewhere in Europe. A special segment explores Denmark’s local elections, a counter-trend where Social Democrats lost to the left after adopting tougher migration policies.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Far Right Becomes "Professional" in Brussels

• The context: After last year’s European elections, the EU’s center believed it could hold — but the vote on the sustainability omnibus showed the firewall with the far right has collapsed.
• EPP’s pivotal role: The center-right EPP failed to rebuild a centrist alliance and instead passed major legislation with far right support, ending the traditional cordon sanitaire (00:00–04:35).
• Reaction from centrists and the left:
  • Liberals, Socialists, and Greens were outraged, with references to political disasters of history (e.g., the Weimar Republic).
  • Quote:
    • “This is a shitty sign for pro-European majorities. It’s a shitty sign for Europe. It’s a shitty sign for the fight against climate change and child labor protection.” — Terry Reintke, Greens co-chair (05:54)
• Far right celebration:
  • For the first time, the far right successfully leveraged its numbers and strategy, with leaders like Jordan Bardella hailing the result as the payoff from disciplined preparation (06:09–06:32).

Timestamp Highlights

• Collapse of the firewall / Omnibus vote recap: 00:00–04:35
• Weimar Republic comparison & left outrage: 04:56–06:06
• Far right “going pro”, new discipline: 11:00–13:22

2. The Secret Ballot and Procedural Mastery

• The far right’s mastery of parliamentary rules became clear when they orchestrated a secret ballot, derailing negotiations and pushing the EPP to their side (03:22–04:35; 13:22–14:14).
• Quote:
  • “This is sort of a master move that only people who really understand the rules of procedure and the game within the House can use properly.” — Max Guerrera (13:22)
• The Patriots and similar groups now field vetted candidates, professional communications teams, and are focusing on policy amendments, not just opposition (11:00–14:37).

3. Social & Economic Drivers of the Far Right's Popularity

• Reporting from Jwick, England, shows why voters feel abandoned — grappling with economic hardship and feeling disconnected from political power centers (06:55–09:49).
• Some voters openly admit to supporting racist policies because of fear over migration, with the far right positioning itself as the only answer (06:55–08:28).
• The far right’s message resonates in areas “remote from big cities where all the power is,” reflecting similar patterns across the UK, France, and Germany (08:28).

Quote

• “...a lot of places like Jwick ... are now moving in the direction of supporting right-wing, far right, hard right political parties like Nigel Farage’s.” — Tim Ross (07:46)

4. The Centre's Risky Game: Adopting Far Right Themes

• Ursula von der Leyen’s “the center is holding” mantra is scrutinized as both national and European politics shift rightward (08:37–09:49).

• EPP tries to absorb far right demands on issues like deregulation, migration, deportation, and rollback of Green Deal policies (09:49–14:48).

• Traditional coalitions look increasingly fragile, with leftwing parties warning of consequences.

  • Quote:
    • “The Socialists have always publicly said that this cannot go on, that it’s outrageous… But whether or not they have enough support for that kind of motion in Parliament is always a little bit less clear.” — Marianne Gros (16:34)

• Mainstream parties risk electoral disaster by mimicking far right stances (“Don’t vote for the copy, vote for the original.”), as illustrated by the Dutch experience (17:25–18:56).

5. Opposition Dilemma: What Can the Center-Left Do?

• Socialists and Democrats keep threatening retaliation, such as motions of censure or bringing down the Commission, but lack unity or appetite for open confrontation (16:20–19:49).
• Quote:
  • “The only option left for S&D ... is that they’ll just have to swallow it. Whenever EPP wants, they’ll be able to pass laws with the right wing.” — Max Guerrera (18:56)

6. Denmark: When the Left Punishes the Center-Left

• Counter trend: In sharp contrast to Brussels, Denmark’s urban voters punish the Social Democrats for their rightward shift on migration — losing Copenhagen for the first time in 120 years (21:21–22:33).

• The Social Democrats remain the largest party overall but hemorrhage votes in urban areas to the far left: Socialists and the Red Green Alliance (22:33–23:35).

• Local issues (housing), national policies (tough on refugees), and the party’s alienation from its traditional blue-collar base all drive the shift.

• Highly controversial: Laws enabling demolition or sale of housing in non-Western majority neighborhoods (23:47).

• Environment: Red Green Alliance boosts support by campaigning on failed government projects, like the toxic artificial island (27:00).

  Quote

  • “In places like Copenhagen, they were in power so long that they were essentially campaigning against their own record, whereas these parties are coming in fresh and really trying to tackle the issues that are making life more difficult.” — Aitor Hernandez Morales (27:29)

7. Implications for the Future

• Frederickson is still likely to remain PM, but her strategy and policies will be watched closely.
• European Social Democrats may reconsider whether adopting hardline migration positions is electorally effective.
• EPP and other mainstream parties must decide whether to collaborate with the far right or risk being outflanked from both sides.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “The far right firewall didn’t bend, it crumbled.” — Sarah Wheaton (00:46)
• “This is reminding me of what happened during the Weimar Republic in Germany when the conservatives teamed up with the Nazis …” — Max Guerrera (05:09)
• “A shitty sign for pro-European majorities. … A shitty sign for the fight against climate change” — Terry Reintke (Greens), quoted by Sarah Wheaton (05:54)
• “The Patriots … now have a whipping operation. They are vetting their candidates … taking the cravat strategy to heart.” — Tim Ross (11:00–12:16)
• “Be radical but not trashy.” — Tom Van Grieken, Flemish far-right leader, as cited by Tim Ross (12:52)
• “They’re proposing amendments that are technical—shows they’re really more sophisticated than they used to be. No longer just opposition.” — Marianne Gros (14:14)
• “Elections have consequences and we are seeing that play out.” — Sarah Wheaton (19:49)
• “Copenhagen has always kind of been the crown jewel for the Social Democrats … but it’s a very different place today … their blue-collar base has disappeared from the city.” — Aitor Hernandez Morales (22:40–23:35)
• “She considers areas where over 50% of residents are from non-Western backgrounds to be a problem — a law has been passed whereby the state can sell off or even demolish homes in that area.” — Aitor Hernandez Morales (23:47)
• “Red Green Alliance focused on … limiting car access into Copenhagen, or [the] Le Neterholm project … now leaking cyanide into the port.” (26:30)
• “Maybe … the route forward is leaning left, as with Sanchez in Spain, but he has his own problems … the lesson: focus on kitchen-table issues.” — Aitor Hernandez Morales (29:12)

Structured Timestamps for Important Segments

• The Fall of the Brussels Firewall & Omnibus Vote: 00:00–06:32
• On-the-Ground Report: Jwick & the British Far Right: 06:32–09:49
• The Far Right’s “Respectability Politics”: 11:00–13:22
• Far Right Procedural Strategies in Parliament: 13:22–14:37
• Contentious Issues on EU Agenda (Migration, Green Deal Rollback): 14:48–16:20
• Centrists’ Options and Left Threats of Censure: 16:20–19:49
• Denmark Local Elections Analysis: 21:21–30:35

Overall Tone and Final Takeaways

The episode captures an EU at an inflection point: the far right is not only louder but savvier, effectively undercutting the center by playing the rules of the parliamentary game. Meanwhile, governments that adopt hardline migration policies in hopes of neutralizing the right may find themselves deserted by their own left-leaning base, as seen in Denmark. The panelists maintain a tone of realism with flashes of dark humor and historical parallels, emphasizing that both sides of the political spectrum are recalibrating — and that “the center holding” may soon be a thing of the past.

For anyone looking to understand Europe’s current political earthquake—from Brussels procedural intrigue to Copenhagen’s surprising leftward lurch—this episode delivers sharp analysis, candid quotes, and a cross-continental perspective.