What’s bad for Trump is good for Le Pen
Anger at the rising cost of living spells danger for incumbents everywhere.
What’s bad for Trump is good for Le Pen. Anger over the rising cost of living poses a threat to incumbents worldwide, as shown by Donald Trump’s Republicans’ devastating loss in the U.S. midterm elections. This anger has now shifted against Trump himself. As European elections approach in countries like Spain, Italy, France, Greece, and Poland, Trump’s situation serves as a warning for incumbents across the continent.
Rising prices and unaffordable housing are likely to create problems for Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who has already faced protests over the cost of fuel. Irene Tinagli, an Italian member of the European Parliament from the opposition Democratic Party, notes that Trump promised to lower living costs but failed to keep that promise.
Surveys show that voters are focused on economic concerns. In Spain, affordability is already a major issue ahead of the Nov. 29 election; polls predict far-right Vox party could gain seats by partnering with the conservative People’s Party. Regardless of their political affiliations, incumbents are vulnerable, warns Ipsos research director Mathieu Gallard.
Incumbents, including Hungary’s Viktor Orbán and the far-right Sweden Democrats, have faced setbacks in recent years. For insurgent politicians like France’s Marine Le Pen and her far-right National Rally party, voter discontent offers an opportunity. The cost of living will be the major issue in the campaign, says Alexandre Loubet, a lawmaker for the National Rally and key architect of Le Pen’s economic platform.
Le Pen, the frontrunner in the 2027 presidential race, has consistently focused on the issue and is capitalizing on the government’s current economic and fiscal challenges. She has emphasized affordable housing in her first campaign appearance and vowed to protect pensioners from budget squeezes. Le Pen also plans to lower energy taxes, disregarding concerns about the affordability of her proposals.
At her party congress, Le Pen chose "Hope" as her campaign motto, contrasting with President Emmanuel Macron’s "Renaissance." The recent protests across Spain, France, Italy, and Germany have centered around the cost of living, especially for young people, mirroring the economic discontent seen in the U.S. Centrist candidates have struggled to address the issue effectively.
Written by urgent.news from Politico EU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
