the rise of populist right-wing movements and the future of international alliances

The seminar was opened by Mamdouh Abbas, Chairman of the Kemet Boutros-Ghali Foundation, who emphasized via a Zoom speech that the rapid rise of the far-right or populist right in the West has evolved from being marginal protest parties with extremist rhetoric into powerful challengers to stable majority parties. In fact, they have reached power in some European countries, and today, their parties hold a significant and influential share of seats in the European Parliament.

Abbas noted that, although the forms of the far-right differ according to the specific contexts of each country, they share common characteristics — foremost among them: extreme nationalism, rejection of all forms of regional integration under the pretext of protecting national sovereignty, an obsession with immigration, and warnings that Europe is losing its identity due to large-scale immigration, especially from Islamic countries. He also highlighted their hostility toward globalization, international institutions, free trade agreements, and their calls for economic protectionism.

He added: "Moreover, it is now evident that international alliances have formed across borders among this movement. We saw support from Trump, Vance, and Musk for French far-right leader Marine Le Pen after she was convicted by a French court and barred from running in the 2027 elections. Trump described the verdict against Le Pen as a 'witch hunt.' Musk also gave strong support to the far-right party in the recent German elections, while the U.S. Vice President called on German parties to open the door for far-right participation in government."

Abbas continued: "For the first time, the far-right Israeli government invited a leader from France’s National Rally and other far-right figures — known for their historical antisemitism — to attend the International Conference on Combating Antisemitism in occupied Jerusalem on March 26–27. This unprecedented move included references to a 'shared Judeo-Christian heritage.'"

He noted that this event does not mark a turning point in Israeli policy so much as it solidifies a trend that has been developing for years. The relationship between Netanyahu’s government and these parties has strengthened recently, and support for Israel has become a cornerstone of the new international far-right. In this context, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán invited Netanyahu to visit Hungary this month in response to the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant against him. Orbán is leveraging his ties with Netanyahu to build connections with the Zionist lobby in the U.S. to consolidate his rule.

Abbas also pointed out the striking fact that far-right parties in several European countries are direct descendants of the Nazi and fascist parties that ruled Europe between the two world wars — the same parties that were accused of massacres against Jews. Ironically, these same parties today are among the most enthusiastic supporters of Israel’s massacres in Palestine. He stressed that these parties, once seen as a strictly European or Western internal matter, now have a cross-border influence that directly affects our region — an influence that warrants careful examination and understanding.

 
Dr. Samir Morcos, writer and intellectual, emphasized that recent remarks by the U.S. President — suggesting that American ships should pass through the Suez and Panama Canals free of charge — reflect the controversial thinking pattern that has marked Trump since he came to power.

Morcos reviewed the transformations occurring in American society under what may be Trump’s second term, noting that the “Trumpian condition” is not concerned with spreading American cultural models or values. Instead, it is driven by a businessman’s mindset: “What can I gain if I take this step?” What matters to Trump is securing new geopolitical gains, as seen recently with Europe and Russia.

He ruled out the idea that the so-called “Trumpist current” is a transatlantic one, noting that a speech given by Vice President Vance at NATO a month ago carried a harsh attack on traditional European democracy. He explained that, in this context, European-American tensions may pose a barrier to realizing Trump’s ambitions.

Morcos also stated that although there has been a qualitative shift within Europe, it has not yet translated into strong influence within institutions such as the European Parliament. While there is room for new civic movements, these have yet to dismantle Europe’s historical state traditions. He described the emerging “new civic movement” as cross-class, cross-generational, cross-cultural, and gender-inclusive.

He further noted that Europe is undergoing a shift in key concepts and terminology, rejecting the reduction of populism solely to anti-immigrant sentiment. There is a broader rebellion against elites and post-World War II institutions.

Morcos outlined the development and types of populism, from 19th-century populism to interwar populism, late-20th-century populism, and finally to what he called “anti-totalitarian populism.” He argued that today’s populism, which began around 2007, is largely driven by economic and political conditions and reflects deep imbalances in the political and labor union structures of societies.

 
Amr El-Shobaki, writer and political thinker and advisor at the Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, agreed with Morcos regarding Trump's recent Suez Canal statements. He pointed out that Trump’s comments reflect a way of thinking that must be carefully considered when interpreting his erratic decisions and positions. He warned that responses should not be limited to whether one is a U.S. ally or part of a resistance axis, because no one is immune from such unpredictable decisions. He also reminded the audience of Trump's recent statements about displacing Palestinians to Sinai.

El-Shobaki emphasized that the crisis with populist movements lies in their arrogance, yet they are fundamentally pragmatic. He noted that post-World War II institutions — including the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court — suffer from weakness and selective application.

He reviewed the stages in the evolution of the populist right-wing trend, noting that while it started outside the mainstream, global and European shifts over recent decades have normalized these movements. They are now part of the public discourse in Western societies, and debates increasingly center around their agendas.

El-Shobaki pointed out that, due to rising numbers of migrants, particularly in France, far-right rhetoric has intensified, focusing on ethnicity and race. He referenced the book The Great Tyranny, whose author predicted that within 30 to 50 years, France and other European countries could become Islamic republics due to demographic shifts. This fear is echoed in far-right circles, where migrants are labeled as “invaders.”