19-06-2024
The Good Lobby, together with a coalition of organisations including Avaaz and Friends of the Earth Europe, recently issued a letter to newly elected members of the European Parliament (MEPs), highlighting the growing influence of far-right parties as a significant threat to European democracy.
For over 65 years, the European Union has championed democracy and prosperity. However, recent elections have seen the rise of far-right factions employing hateful rhetoric and disinformation. Incidents such as the Sweden Democrats’ secret troll factory and former AfD politician Robby Schlund’s Russian ties underscore the lengths to which these parties will go to gain power.
Far-right policies seek to roll back climate protections, undermine LGBTQ+ rights, and scapegoat minorities. For instance, the Dutch Party for Freedom is advocating for extreme asylum policies that violate EU agreements.
The letter calls on MEPs to:
- explicitly condemn far-right policies on immigration and the oppression of minority rights, including but not limited to LGBTQ+ and women’s rights, standing against all forms of discrimination, especially hate speech;
- refuse to cooperate with any coalition that could enable far-right policies to be implemented in the EU;
- observe and condemn attacks on freedom of expression, the rule of law, and fundamental rights in any country; protect the implementation of a socially responsible Green Deal.
The responsibility of upholding democratic values and human rights in the EU is paramount. The new MEPs must unite to preserve the principles of unity, cooperation, and respect for human dignity, ensuring a resilient European democracy.
The Good Lobby is currently working on a toolkit providing guidance on whether and how to deal with political leaders from far-right, anti-establishment parties. It is part of The Good Lobby Hub acting as a one-stop shop for civil society organisations striving to influence the next EU policy cycle.