Taking a stance against populism

For a long time, dealing with populists was characterised by stigmatisation, ignoring, marginalisation and exclusion, but also by insecurity, hesitation, convergence with and adoption of populist positions, and even the formation of coalitions. None of these strategies did them any lasting harm. In the recent past, however, an approach has emerged that stops populists in their tracks. It is a combination of attitude and policy that benefits and encourages people.

Key Facts

• Over the last few years, populist candidates and parties have achieved remarkable success with some of them now experiencing an all-time high.
• Populist success has been at the expense of parties to the left and right of the centre. Populists attack what has long been and continues to be important to centrist parties: cosmopolitanism, tolerance, solidarity and a united Europe. Democratic parties to the left and right of the centre cannot turn a blind eye when right-wing and national populists win over their voters and cast doubt on their achievements.
• For a long time, interaction with populists was characterised by stigmatisation, disregard, dissociation and isolation, but also by insecurity, hesitation, approximation and adoption of populist positions all the way to the formation of coalitions. None of these strategies has undermined populists over the long-term.
• However, in recent years, an approach has emerged that is stymieing populists. A combination of taking a stance and politics that benefits and encourages people. This is how Emmanuel Macron in France, Mark Rutte in the Netherlands and Alexander Van der Bellen and Sebastian Kurz in Austria, have been able to defeat populists.

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