John O'Brennan: Far-right ascendancy across Europe — we can't be complacent about where that brings us

The success of Geert Wilders in the Dutch elections is not a shock. Right-wing parties are polling at 20% in 15 EU states and are a major threat to Europe

Geert Wilders, leader of the far-right party PVV, or Party for Freedom, talks to the media after a meeting with speaker of the House Vera Bergkamp. Picture: AP Photo/Peter Dejong

The earthquake created by the success of the Freedom party (PVV) in topping the poll in last week’s Dutch general election has to be placed in the context of the wider rise of the far right across Europe.

Irrespective of whether the PVV gets to form a new government (unlikely), its success should not have come as a surprise: in 15 out of 27 EU member states, the far right is currently polling at or above 20%, the highest aggregate level of support for far right parties since the 1930s.