Quadriga: The International Talk Show from Berlin

The Rise of Populism - A Threat to Europe? The far-right Front National emerged from last weekend’s regional elections as the strongest political force in France. Many are now asking: could party leader Marine Le Pen be the country’s next president? But France isn’t the only country in Europe where right-wing populists are gaining ground. And everywhere, fear is top of the populist agenda: fear of migrants, fear of Islamist terror. The simple answer to complex challenges is: nationalism, more nationalism. It’s a message that clearly resonates with more and more voters. So how much of a threat do these populist parties pose to Europe? Join the conversation: quadriga(at)dw.com Our guests: Ulrike Guérot is a political analyst and Founder & Director of The European Democracy Lab. She says: the Front National “is NOT a new phenomenon in France and the recent terror attacks are NOT the real reason for its surge in popularity. The Front National is a people’s party that brings together the ‘lost citizens’ of the République.” Judy Dempsey has been a columnist for the International Herald Tribune and works now as a Senior Associate at Carnegie Europe and editor-in-chief of Strategic Europe. She says: “Marine Le Pen's victory is a marvellous boost for other far-right wing and populist parties across Europe. Le Pen could become the next president of France. Europe would then rest with her.” Ulrike Herrmann is an author and a journalist with the Berlin-based daily the Tageszeitung, or TAZ. She focuses on business and finance and believes that “Germany’s economic policies are partly to blame for the growing support for the Front National in France.”