The elections that could remake Europe. FT The Big Read Populism in Europe.
Polish KKP leader Grzegorz Braun.
Four Polish rightwing parties have a combined
48 per cent support in the poll
In the space of 12 months, four of the five biggest EU member states will go to the ballot box. The bloc may never be the same.
The common trends are striking. There is a broad electoral shift to the right and a growing readiness among centre-right parties to share power with far-right rivals, spelling the end of so-called firewall policies of non-co-operation.
One could even include Germany in this cycle. There are no national elections in the country this year. But three regional ones in April could spell the end for Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who appears to be living on borrowed time.
The economy is generally weak, living standards are being squeezed, public finances are under severe strain and public policy problems seem intractable.
Financial Times 13 October 2026
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