European leaders warn of rising nationalism following AfD success

Italian political figures Stefano Bonaccini and Paolo Gentiloni have expressed significant concern regarding the rise of nationalist and extremist movements across Europe, specifically citing the electoral success of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.

Speaking at a Democratic Party event, Stefano Bonaccini warned of a ‘black wave’ threatening European democracy, noting that the rise of far-right forces in Germany and potential victories for figures like Marine Le Pen in France pose a risk to the continent. He advocated for deeper European integration and the creation of a ‘United States of Europe’ to overcome decision-making paralysis caused by individual member states' veto powers.

Paolo Gentiloni described the AfD's performance as an ‘enormous fact,’ emphasizing that the party is no longer confined to eastern Germany. He warned of an upcoming electoral cycle involving various nationalist movements across Poland, France, Spain, and Italy. Gentiloni argued that the European Union must respond by showing strength and increasing integration rather than engaging with extremist rhetoric on its own terms, suggesting that maintaining a ‘cordon sanitaire’ around these movements is essential for stability.