With the European elections approaching, Equipop, a feminist association for international solidarity, warns of the dangers of the rise of the far right in Europe, particularly for gender equality and the fundamental rights of women and LGBTQIA+ people.
On May 16, 2024, Equipop published a report entitled "When the far right advances, women's rights retreat." This report follows two publications on the "backlash"and masculinist discourse. It will be followed by a second installment in the fall of 2024, which will offer a post-election analysis and suggestions for action to advance gender equality in the new political context.
The June 2024 elections are of paramount importance. The far right continues to gain ground in voting intentions. With the likelihood of a historic score for far-right political parties high, feminist achievements and advances in women's rights are at risk. The outcome of this election must be analyzed on several levels: it could not only upset the political balance in the European Parliament, but also influence national and international policies for years to come.
In this alarming context, Equipop calls for urgent action to defend gender equality and, more broadly, democratic values. The media are called upon not to trivialize the far right and to incorporate feminist analysis into their election coverage. Political parties, for their part, have a responsibility to recognize the feminist issues at stake in these elections and to fully integrate these perspectives into their programs and actions.
The far right is traditionally defined as a group of political parties, organizations, and media outlets with a political agenda centered on rejecting immigration, even openly xenophobic views; authoritarian domestic policies; and anti-establishment rhetoric hostile to traditional parties. For Equipop and many feminist researchers and experts, this must also include deep anti-feminism and an "anti-gender" agenda, opposed to the rights of women and LGBTQIA+ people, and aimed at maintaining gendered and patriarchal norms.
