German right's surge mirrors societal fracture as Italy rebrands its conservative movement

Recent headlines warn of a “black wave” engulfing Germany, yet the author rejects the Cold-War lens and the blanket “ultra-right” label for the AfD, calling it a mischaracterisation. The party’s surge is presented as a reflection of a nation that feels unrecognised, pulling in self-employed individuals, young creatives and communicators who blame the left for erasing Germany’s future. Chancellor Merz’s coalition choices, especially alliances with the Social Democrats, have alienated moderate voters.

Meanwhile, Italy avoids a similar split: Antonio Tajani maintains a steady course and Giorgia Meloni has deliberately stripped the right of low-brow, porn-style rhetoric, reshaping it into a modern conservative movement capable of attracting former centre-right supporters. The author criticises Ursula von der Leyen’s focus on a Greenland visit, suggesting that staying in Brussels would have revealed how her European agenda marginalises genuine centre-right forces, contributing to a cooling of voter enthusiasm across Europe.