At a time when far-right parties are gaining influence across the European Union, Equipop is publishing a new report on December 10, 2024, analyzing political and institutional dynamics six months after the European elections.
Following the June 2024 elections, one might mistakenly believe that the overall balance of power in the European Parliament has been preserved, with the European People's Party and the Socialists and Democrats remaining the first and second largest political groups. But the reality is much more complex when these results are analyzed in terms of women's rights and gender equality. Our new report takes stock of the post-election situation by analyzing the strategies of far-right parties, media coverage of these elections, and the composition of the new European Parliament. He then offers an in-depth analysis of the dynamics of unity among European far-right parties around reactionary racist and sexist ideologies. Finally, Equipop identifies numerous concrete levers for action to advance the rights of women and LGBTQIA+ people within a European Union transformed by this historic rise of far-right parties.
An alarming political reconfiguration for women's and LGBTQIA+ rights
- Historic rise of far-right parties, particularly in (e.g., France, Italy, Germany)
- A strengthened alliance between right-wing and far-right parties, threatening the traditional "cordon sanitaire."
- Women's rights are being exploited more than ever in the European election campaign.
Prospects for action to build a feminist Europe
Despite this backlash reactionary, there are levers for action that progressive forces must seize upon:- Promoting gender approaches across all European Commission portfolios
- Securing funding for gender equality
- Building on European tools and advances
- Maintaining a progressive European voice in multilateral forums
- Changing media coverage of the European far right
Call to the media: deconstructing the rhetoric of the far right
The report also addresses the European media, which plays a key role in the perception and dissemination of political ideas. Equipop emphasizes the urgency of:- Refuse to be a sounding board for racist and anti-gender rhetoric.
- Deconstructing the hateful and sexist narratives promoted by the far right.
- Empower citizens to demand policies that promote equality.
