The populist immigration circus
Across the West, a wave of parties branded “far-right,” “xenophobic,” and “nativist” is on the rise. Their entire appeal rests on one promise: reversing the sorry state of immigration. But even this is largely a fiction — carefully curated by a hostile press and, funnily enough, by the parties themselves. They are far less anti-migrant than either claims. What follows is a tour of the vast chasm between their spittle-flecked immigration rhetoric and their groveling record.
TL;DR
- Parties labeled 'far-right,' 'xenophobic,' and 'nativist' are gaining traction across the West.
- Their primary promise is to reverse immigration trends, but this is often a 'fiction'.
- Giorgia Meloni's government in Italy has seen the foreign share of the population increase.
- Despite warnings, Meloni's government authorized nearly half a million non-EU work visas for 2026-2028.