Far-right parties receive 23% of votes in recent European national elections

Analysis covering 31 European countries found that more than 23% of voters supported far-right parties in their most recent national elections, up from about 10% a decade earlier and roughly 5% in 1995. The study, conducted by more than 150 political scientists and coordinated by Matthijs Rooduijn at the University of Amsterdam, also recorded that nearly 30% of voters backed anti-establishment parties.

National election results France’s National Rally increased its share from 19% to 37% and became the largest single party in parliament. Austria’s Freedom Party rose from 16% to 29%. Portugal’s Chega moved from 7% to 18%. In Germany’s 2025 election, Alternative für Deutschland doubled its support from 10% to 21% and finished second.

Reform UK received 14% in Britain’s 2024 vote, compared with 2% in 2019.

Government participation and polling Far-right parties currently hold seats in ruling coalitions in Croatia, Czechia, Italy and Finland, and support a minority government in Sweden. The same parties lead opinion polls in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany and the UK.

The research noted setbacks in the Netherlands, where the Freedom Party lost nearly one-third of its seats, and in Hungary, where Fidesz was defeated in April. Rooduijn stated that voter attitudes on immigration have remained stable, but these issues have grown more decisive at election time.

He added that far-right parties have become more effective at framing messages around national identity and have gained visibility through media coverage and adoption of their positions by other parties.