Right-Wing Parties Gain Influence Across Europe Amidst Migration Concerns
Right-wing parties across Europe are gaining influence, advocating stricter immigration policies. Meanwhile, concerns grow about migrants' integration and security threats, as over 52,000 migrants arrived in the UK last year alone.
In Sweden, the right-wing populist party 'The Finns' has joined the coalition, pushing for tougher immigration policies. Similarly, Italy's right-wing coalition, led by Interior Minister Piantedosi, supports swift deportations and stricter border controls. This shift reflects voters' growing unease with the liberal consensus on immigration.
Europol warns that irregular migration routes are exploited by jihadist networks, posing a security threat. In the UK, Black men, comprising only 3% of the population, make up over 12% of the male prison population, a disparity that predates the current migration crisis. Most recent migrants lack historical, linguistic, or religious ties to their host societies, hindering integration.
When migration becomes uncontrolled, law and order can erode, and states lose credibility. The UK's Rwanda deportation scheme has failed, and its immigration system appears adrift. Over 52,000 migrants arrived in the UK across the English Channel in 2023, most without visas and many undocumented. A significant proportion are unaccompanied young men of military age from Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East.
As migration continues to pose risks to security and social cohesion, a rational migration policy is needed. This involves restoring border control, recalibrating legal immigration, rediscovering civic confidence, and speaking truthfully about migration.
