In three European elections this weekend, pro-European voices triumphed. Voters in Poland, Romania, and Portugal largely supported parties and candidates favoring European cooperation. However, Europe correspondent Stefan de Vries warns of caution.
'While all three countries show a strong pro-European sentiment, there is also a growing protest vote,' says De Vries. 'Far-right parties performed well too.'
In Portugal's parliamentary elections, the far-right Chega party secured nearly a quarter of the votes, matching the traditional Socialist Party. In Poland's presidential elections, far-right candidates collectively won over 20% of the vote.
'This has implications for Europe,' De Vries notes. 'We see increasing fragmentation, even in countries traditionally dominated by two or three parties.' Younger voters, in particular, are turning to protest parties.