Production: By Europod, in co-production with Sphera Network.
EUobserver is proud to have an editorial partnership with Europod to co-publish the podcast series “Briefed” hosted by Léa Marchal. The podcast is available on all major platforms.
You can find the transcript here if you prefer reading:
The right has once again joined forces with the far right in the European Parliament to push through a major text on migration.
Since the 2024 elections, this pattern has been repeating itself over and over.
Could this breakdown of the firewall become the norm across Europe?
In the European Parliament, it’s now common for the largest political group, the European People’s Party, the EPP, to turn its back on its traditional centre and left-wing partners and instead vote with the far right.
This was the case again on Monday, 9 March, with the draft regulation on returning migrants to their countries of origin.
French EPP member François-Xavier Bellamy, who worked closely on this text, refused to discuss the issue with the pro-European majority groups. Instead, he submitted an alternative report that further tightens the conditions for returning migrants.
His report was adopted—thanks to the support of the three far-right groups.
If you want to know more about this piece of legislation, you can listen to the episode of Briefed from 17 February.
Another migration-related text was treated the same way in early February. But the right-far right alliance now extends beyond migration to other issues, like economics — and more specifically, deregulation.
Is this trend, observed in the European Parliament, also visible in EU member states?
The breakdown of the so-called 'cordon sanitaire', or firewall, is indeed happening within some national governments.
In Germany, Friedrich Merz was sharply criticised last year for passing a resolution on migration with the support of the far-right AfD party. His argument: A text doesn’t lose its relevance just because the wrong people support it.
In France, the bill called ‘Loi Duplomb’—which reduces environmental constraints for farmers—was passed last year without left-wing support but with backing from the National Rally.
Another step was taken in October 2025 when the National Assembly adopted, for the very first time, a resolution submitted by the National Rally. The text, though not legally binding, called for stricter residency conditions in France for Algerian nationals.
Is the growing influence of far-right parties limited to voting?
Clearly not. Because it’s increasingly about governing with the far right
Across the continent, coalitions now include one or more far-right parties, or rely on their support.
In Sweden, the Democrats—a far-right party—are the country’s second-largest political force. And they struck a deal with the government in 2022. As a result, migration rules have been tightened, and some climate and environmental policies have been rolled back.
In the east, Lithuania has been governed since last year with the populist party Dawn of the Nemunas, whose founder has made antisemitic statements.
Croatia, also includes a nationalist party in its governing coalition since 2024.
In some cases, far-right parties have even completely overtaken traditional parties to govern alone, as in Italy and in the Czech Republic.
In conclusion, the firewall is weakened across the EU, with a few exceptions where far-right parties remain marginalised.
The next major battle is set for France—one of the EU’s two most powerful countries and a founding member—during the 2027 presidential elections.
The Republican right could ally with the far right and help it secure a majority of votes.
Such an alliance was long considered taboo. But today, a growing number of Republicans seem ready to work with the far right.
The behaviour of French members of the Republicans in the European Parliament demonstrates this shift.
