Increasing numbers of Europeans move to fringe and extremist parties

Increasing numbers of Europeans who have lost confidence in EU economic policies are moving from the centre to fringe and extremist parties, according to Finance Minister Michael Noonan.

Mr Noonan said: “Right across Europe the centre is no longer holding and 25% of seats will go to fringe parties at the European elections. It seems to me there is a market in Ireland for people who are opposed to economic policy and I am sure that will manifest itself in the polls.”

Mr Noonan, who was speaking at the launch of Sean Kelly’s European election campaign at the Strand Hotel in Limerick, said youth unemployment was now at unsustainable levels in the EU, and this was one of the issues driving people to the fringes and to extreme parties.