Far Right Wins European Youth Through Culture as EU Lags

In Europe, there's a noticeable rise in support for far-right parties among educated youth, which the EU seems to be missing. In the upcoming 2024 European Parliament elections, these parties are set to secure 27% of the total seats, translating to 191 out of 720, with over 21% backing from men under 30. In Germany, the AfD's popularity among 18-24 year-olds jumped from 5% in 2013 to 19% in 2025. Meanwhile, in France, Marine Le Pen's National Rally is now the top choice for those aged 18-34. The EU's Creative Europe program has a budget of €2.44 billion for 2021–2027, but Russia is investing over €1 billion in cultural propaganda for 2024. Ursula von der Leyen launched the EU's Culture Compass in late 2024, but it’s lacking sufficient funds. Călin Georgescu won the first round of Romania's 2024 presidential election with a message that resonated with TikTok users.