Nationalism In 2018: 3 Elections To Keep Track Of
2016 was a springboard year for nationalism. Starting from the United Kingdom’s daring Brexit to Donald Trump’s stunning, against-all-odds win in the United States’ presidential elections, the wave of nationalism made its path through 2017.
Although nationalist movements fell short in the Netherlands and France, they marched onto victory in Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic. While Angela Merkel was re-elected as Chancellor of Germany, her globalist party lost majority control of Parliament to nationalist organizations such as the Alternative for Germany.
Sebastian Kurz became the youngest leader in Western Europe with a convincing win in Austria. The Freedom Party of Austria which was founded by nationalists entered the government coalition in December 2017.
Meanwhile, the “Trump of Europe”, billionaire populist Andrej Babis and his anti-establishment party ANO massively triumphed in the Czech Republic parliamentary elections.
2018 does figure to be any different than 2017 with immigration continuing to be a pressing and divisive issue.
As migration from war-torn, despotic and extremist regimes continue to increase, more Europeans are becoming concerned that the influx of refugees will continue to influence its values, society and at the same time expose the country to greater risk of terrorism and acts of violence.
Will nationalism continue to overwhelm Western-style, globalist politics that are propagated by the European Union? Here are three elections in 2018 that you should watch out for:
- Italy
The populist Five Star Movement (M5S) is ahead in surveys heading to March 4 when Italy elects a new prime minister. Beppe Grillo who heads M5S has expressed willingness to leave the EU.
But his unwillingness to form alliances may be the party’s downfall in landing majority rule. Former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is back and hopes to thrust his party Forza Italia to the government.
- Hungary
Viktor Orban looks to regain the majority seats in parliament during the upcoming national elections. Orban’s party, the ruling conservative, Fidesz, has gained popularity and country-wide support for its nationalistic and anti-immigration positions.
According to recent survey, Fidesz holds a comfortable 35% lead over other challengers in the elections.
- Mexico
Unlike Europe where right-wing candidates are the popular choice of voters, polls in Mexico suggest that the country is about to elect a President from the Left.
Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador who heads the anti-establishment party National Regeneration Movement leads the polls for the upcoming presidential elections.
Obrador gained popularity for his anti-Trump rhetoric as well as from current President Enrique Nieto’s scandal riddled administration. Trump’s tough stance on Mexico has lent a boost to the nationalist fervor and Obrador’s candidacy.
The nationalist movement will continue to meet resistance from globalist stalwarts like billionaire George Soros who recently pledged more funding to his Open Society Foundations which advocates his positions on immigration, population control and global warming-based environmentalism.
In the United States, the struggle between the liberals and conservatives had taken a turn for the worse and led to the closure of the Federal Government.
After two days, both sides arrived at a consensus for Democrats to lend their votes to approve stopgap funding measures provided Republicans agreed to immediately discuss DACA-related immigration issues.
Perhaps 2018 will be exactly as defeated French nationalist candidate Marie Le Pen envisioned:
“The divide is no longer a battle between the Left and the Right but between globalists and nationalists.”
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