Euro elections | There is a “peace wave” spreading in Europe, which no party in Finland believes in – it might decide the election

Berlin/Brussels

Ukrainian support has become a decisive issue in the European elections in some European countries.

The far right in Germany, Austria, Italy and Hungary demands the West to reduce support for Ukraine. Partly the same message is also used by left-wing populists.

The message of the election ads is that the West is fomenting war. In the background is the unspoken idea that Russia would be ready to negotiate for peace, although in reality there are no signs of such a thing.

However, the message seems to be working, because based on opinion polls, the far-right is predicted to increase support in the European elections.

The same discussion is not seen in the Nordic countries and the Baltics, but also the far-right parties are solidly behind the support of Ukraine.

The most blatant The questioning of Ukraine’s support can be seen in Austria and Hungary. HS Correspondents Suvi Turtiainen and Jarno Hartikainen have followed the campaigning in various parts of Central Europe.

The election ad of the far-right Austrian Freedom Party FPÖ has a picture of the president of Ukraine From Volodymyr Zelenskyi leaning in for a kiss on the cheek to the president of the EU Commission For Ursula von der Leyen. A tank and military helicopters can be seen in the background.

The election ad accuses them of warmongering.

The FPÖ leads the party support polls with around 30 percent support, and the party is also predicted to win the Austrian parliamentary elections to be held in the fall.

in Hungary authoritarian Viktor Orbán the ruling party Fidesz has raised the war as the main theme of the European elections. Election ads say “war” in capital letters, and in them it is hinted that Hungary’s own opposition and in some advertisements also a large Jewish investor George Soros would be on the war side.

According to Fidesz, the West incites war and supports the so-called “globalist war machine”. Orbán supports the restoration of relations with Russia.

Fidesz is from the new one despite the challenger of the opposition, remaining the largest party in the European elections in Hungary.

in the Czech Republic Tomio Okamura led by the far-right SPD is also campaigning with the message that the party wants to stop financing the war in Ukraine through the EU.

Ukrainian the continuation of the support has become a central election theme also in the EU’s largest member state, Germany. The right-wing populist and partly extreme right-wing Alternative for Germany party (AfD) uses a dove of peace and the slogan “Our country first” in its campaign. The message refers to Germany’s support of billions for Ukraine.

Many AfD supporters feel that the standard of living of Germans is constantly declining and yet money is given to Ukraine.

A left-wing populist following Russia’s line is also campaigning for the continuation of support for Ukraine Sahra Wagenknecht a new party participating in elections for the first time. “War or peace?” is asked in the party’s ad.

Wagenknecht opposes arms aid to Ukraine and supports the restoration of gas trade with Russia.

The message appeals to many voters. AfD’s support is between 15 and 20 percent. Wagenknecht’s support is around five percent, and he is fighting for some of the same voters with the AfD.

Part from the far right has taken the French president as a weapon in its election campaign Emmanuel Macron talks about sending soldiers to Ukraine.

The National Coalition, which conducts opinion polls in France, has rejected the idea, and saysthat Macron spends more time fomenting war than looking for a peaceful solution.

“Italian soldiers to go to war in Ukraine? No thanks”, also states the election message of the Italian far-right Lega.

Party chairman Matteo Salvini has pushed the message to the top of his social media account, so every visitor can see it. The Lega is threatened with a crushing defeat in the elections, and the party is trying to separate itself from the Italian Brothers party, which leads the government.

The pro-Russian leadership has also campaigned in Slovakia by imaginationthat soon Slovak men will have to fight as part of NATO forces on the Ukrainian front.