Extremist and populist parties capitalize on real fears and frustrations—they don't create them. Many people believe the political center has neglected their grievances. Europe now faces a choice: embrace the positive vision of centrism or succumb to the division, fear, and anger that the extremes promote. The outcome of the European Parliament election in June leaves this debate unresolved.
While the new right has gained ground in certain areas, Europe's overall balance of power remains unchanged. This suggests there may not be a widespread appetite for populism and extremism, yet there are legitimate grievances that many feel have not been adequately addressed by the political center. Extremist and populist parties don't invent these fears; they identify and amplify them, exploiting their resonance with a dissatisfied public. The strength of the new right lies not in the quality of its ideas—indeed, its simplistic solutions are bound to fail—but in its ability to understand and emphasize people's concerns.
Whether it's fears about the impact of migration on national identity, job losses due to technological advancements, or the rising cost of living, these concerns are real and understandable. The issue isn't with voters who, driven by these fears, choose candidates they believe understand them. The challenge is effectively communicating the centrist message.
Centrism can prevail on substance—it offers solutions to Europe's complex challenges. But first, centrists must convince a broad segment of the public that they genuinely understand these fears.
In his victory speech, French President Emmanuel Macron said, "I will do everything to make sure you never have reason again to vote for extremes." This should be the rallying cry for centrists. The challenge is to provide voters with a clear alternative and to connect with their genuine worries about the future. As recent events in France have shown, even bold and effective reforms might not be enough if they are not persuasive.
Only by truly understanding people's pain can we work toward solutions that offer the two key things centrists bring to the political table—hope and pragmatism.
Centrism is inherently hopeful about the future, about our collective ability to change the course of society and address the most complex problems. It should embrace a form of liberal patriotism that combines a love of the country with a commitment to liberal democratic values, along with strong action toward effective multilateralism and transnationalism—the very elements that unite our nations.
While extremists emphasize identity politics, centrism must highlight the strength of our shared identity, promoting a positive national vision and a strong commitment to global solutions. Where extremists offer simplistic answers, centrism must demonstrate how unworkable the new right's solutions are—and how much worse off people would be under them.
In Europe, centrism must also navigate the competing tensions between greater integration and local identity, globalization and local industry, and security and civil liberties. These tensions are real, and only by effectively balancing them can politicians truly claim to be pragmatic. That pragmatism must be channeled into tangible results—initiatives that improve people's lives in meaningful ways.
Finally, alongside the hope and pragmatism that naturally come with centrism, there must be a clear vision of core issues—something that is already emerging in the digital and green transformations. There's no room for splitting the difference between right and left or seeking consensus based on the lowest common denominator. Strong centrist politics must chart a clear path for owning the future.
As we reflect on this summer's election results and draw lessons from them, it's time for European centrists to look ahead. The answer to the rise of the illiberal right will not come from the illiberal left. And while our friends on the mainstream right and left may be tempted to appease the extremes, it's the centrists who must stand firm.
Social democrats or conservatives might believe they would benefit from alliances with the extremes of the political spectrum, but they must resist the allure of populism and demonstrate that moderate, pragmatic politics can deliver.
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