Panel discussion: The Rise of the European Far Right

As Europe grapples with economic uncertainties, migration challenges, and cultural shifts, the far right has gained unprecedented momentum across the continent. Germany, long considered a bastion of centrist politics, has not been immune to this trend. And with the looming election, the true surge might still lay ahead. This surge in far-right popularity is reshaping the political discourse and challenging the established order in ways that demand our attention.

Our panel will delve into the complex factors fueling this phenomenon, from economic grievances to cultural anxieties. They will explore how far-right parties are leveraging social media and populist rhetoric to broaden their appeal, and examine the potential long-term implications for European democracy and social cohesion.

Paul Moss is a writer and broadcaster, currently the BBC’s Europe Regional Editor and a presenter on The Newsroom. He brings two decades of frontline political reporting from his role as BBC Radio 4’s The World Tonight correspondent, where he has tracked Europe’s shifting ideological landscape since the Brexit referendum. Moss’s work consistently exposes how populist narratives gain traction – from analyzing far-right media ecosystems to documenting the real-world impacts of nationalist policies on European communities.

Stefan Boscia combines razor-sharp policy analysis with deep political insight as POLITICO Europe’s London Playbook author. His celebrated London Playbook Newsletter explores wide ranging themes including the exposé on the UK government’s leaked extremism review – which identified far-right “manosphere” subcultures and conspiracy networks as emerging threats.

Previously as City AM’s chief political correspondent, Boscia chronicled the Conservative Party’s rightward shift post-Brexit and its implications for UK-EU relations. His current focus includes tracking the normalization of far-right talking points in parliamentary debates and their impact on trade policy.