It is unclear how big the impact of the current populist surge will be for the future of Europe. As of March 2018, populist parties have secured more than half the vote in only four countries in the European Union. The parties themselves are perceived negatively by large portions of the population along with many populist figures, such as Nigel Farage, Marine le Pen and Geert Wilders. There is also evidence of a generational divide, with younger voters more likely to have voted “remain” in the Brexit referendum, or to find figures such as Boris Johnson unpopular. The youth of Europe that are drawn to populist ideologies are more likely to be left-wing than right.
With trust in institutions remaining low in some major European countries, populism’s appeal will likely continue for the foreseeable future. Whether or not they win more power or are able to achieve their goals once established remains to be seen.
