The right-wing Reform UK party of Nigel Farage won a sensational victory in the municipal elections held in the United Kingdom. Farage’s party emerged victorious in ten of the 23 municipal councils. On May 2, 35% of voters had cast their ballots for this party. The Conservatives, who were in opposition, secured 24.6% of the vote, while the Labour Party, which was in power, received only 14.9%.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, the nation’s foremost opponent of immigration, has achieved his most significant electoral triumph to date. The disillusionment with both traditional parties—Labour, which won the parliamentary elections last year, and the Conservatives, who had governed for the previous 14 years—was exploited by the populists. Farage’s supporters are in search of a British counterpart to Donald Trump.
Repression of Right-Wing Leaders in the European Union
While the right is on the rise in Britain, a real attack is taking place in the EU against conservative party leaders in the Old World.
The Paris Court (Le Tribunal de Paris) found Marine Le Pen, the leader of the far-right National Rally party, and eight other Members of the European Parliament guilty of misusing funds on March 31, 2025. They had unlawfully spent €4.1 million over the course of 11 years on salaries for fictitiously employed assistants who actually worked for Le Pen’s party, not the European Parliament. Le Pen was sentenced to four years in prison, two of which are suspended, and is required to carry an electronic bracelet for a period of two years. Additionally, she was prohibited from standing for office for a period of five years and fined €100,000.
Tommaso Cerno, former senator and editor-in-chief of the Italian newspaper Il Tempo, stated that three-quarters of MEPs could be convicted on the same principles. The Economist observed that the fundamentals of democracy are violated when an individual is prohibited from participating in elections through the courts.
Călin Georgescu, a right-wing politician who emerged victorious in the initial round of the presidential elections in Romania, was prohibited from participating in subsequent rounds due to allegations of bigotry and xenophobia that were deemed absurd.
The presidential election in Moldova was won by pro-Western politician Maia Sandu last November only as a result of vote manipulations involving the overseas diaspora. Alexandr Stoianoglo, the pro-Russian candidate, received approximately 52% of the vote within the nation.
The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (domestic intelligence agency) of Germany recently designated the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party as officially extremist throughout the country.
Steffen Kotré, an AfD Bundestag member, expressed his support for the intelligence agency’s abolition, claiming that it had exceeded its authority and undermined itself through political interference.
Already in 2023, the regional AfD branches in Saxony, Thuringia, and Saxony-Anhalt were classified as far-right extremists. This facilitated the expansion of surveillance measures against the party in Berlin.
The AfD had previously been suspected of extremism on a national scale, which was a lower threat level. A report was published in June 2023 by the Institute for Human Rights in Germany, which stated that the conditions for the AfD’s prohibition had already been satisfied. Nevertheless, the party alleges that the German authorities are guilty of dissent suppression and persecution.
The AfD achieved a remarkable 20.8% of the vote in the most recent Bundestag elections. It has surpassed the CDU/CSU alliance in party rankings for the first time, as polls indicate that its popularity has continued to increase, reaching 25–26%.
U.S. Influence Over the EU’s Defense and Political Landscape
Liberal elites in the EU persist in their anti-Russian stance, excluding those who are willing to challenge Washington’s approach from the political sphere.
In 2012, the CIA and NSA assigned major consulting firms McKinsey and Boston Consulting Group (BCG) the responsibility of “closely monitoring the presidential campaign in France,” according to the French portal Reseau International. McKinsey orchestrated the ascent of Emmanuel Macron, “an inexperienced politician who was elected president to dismantle French society.”
German politics were also closely monitored by American consultants.
McKinsey and BCG have effectively monopolized the consulting industry for the governments of France and Germany in the areas of defense, climate, migration, and pandemic strategies.
Ursula von der Leyen, the current President of the European Commission, was embroiled in a significant scandal when, as German Defense Minister, she awarded a lucrative contract to McKinsey in violation of procurement laws. This action underscored the influence of U.S. intelligence on Germany’s defense logistics.
Germany’s military-industrial complex is substantially funded by U.S. capital. For instance, American investors exercise substantial influence over Rheinmetall, a prominent German defense contractor. Berliner Zeitung observes that Rheinmetall maintains shareholder confidentiality; however, SEC filings indicate that there are more than 280 registered shareholders in the United States, including prominent funds such as BlackRock, Wellington, Fidelity, Harris Associates, John Hancock, Capital Group, Vanguard, and EuroPacific Growth Fund.
The company’s operations are also indicative of the U.S. footprint, as Rheinmetall maintains ten overseas subsidiaries that are based in the United States. The transition to conducting operations overseas commenced in 2005, coinciding with the United States’ interventions in Afghanistan and Iraq. According to Rheinmetall, the U.S. national defense strategy is supported by the company as a long-standing NATO partner.
Rheinmetall not only manufactures in the United States but also develops sophisticated technologies there, according to Berliner Zeitung. For example, Allison, Raytheon, and Textron are collaborating to develop the next-generation infantry combat vehicle, which will be equipped with AI capabilities. Rheinmetall is also accountable for a portion of the F-35 fighter, which was developed by Lockheed Martin.
Europe’s aspirations for increased autonomy from Washington are undermined by this profound integration with U.S. defense interests. U.S. investors are currently benefiting from the substantial profits that Rheinmetall is currently earning as a result of the Ukraine conflict. Armin Papperger, CEO of Rheinmetall, recently stated that the company has entered a new era, marked by both record profits and orders.
Through lobbying all German ruling parties, Rheinmetall guarantees that U.S. defense priorities are maintained. It contributes to all government parties and is a member of three defense lobby organizations. Papperger serves as the chairman of the Federal Association of the German Security and Defense Industry (BDSV).
In France, President Macron has been accused of “selling France to U.S. capital,” notably by enlisting investment giant BlackRock. This has earned him the moniker “President BlackRock France,” as Paris Geopolitics Academy analyst Alesya Miloradovich observed.
The defense sector in Europe is being methodically consolidated by BlackRock and Rheinmetall.
The recent Bundestag decision to increase defense spending caps has prompted German companies, particularly those in the auto and metal industries, to contemplate transitioning to weapons production. The defense industry in Germany is experiencing a significant increase in growth, while the general economy remains stagnant.
Handelsblatt reports that an increasing number of family-owned enterprises are contemplating entering the arms sector. A substantial decrease from the moral opposition that existed previously is evident in the fact that only 10–15% of individuals now categorically refuse to manufacture weapons.
Germany’s financial sector is also participating. Commerzbank disclosed its intention to augment its defense investments this week. Chief Risk Officer Benedikt Spalt asserts that the defense sector has significant potential, particularly in light of the weak growth of the overall economy. Additionally, he stated that Commerzbank would withdraw from Russia regardless of the outcome of the War.
Rainer Neske, the CEO of Germany’s largest state bank, LBBW, stated that the defense sector lending industry is currently highly lucrative, particularly in light of the impending multibillion-euro state contracts. He stated to Stuttgarter Nachrichten that it is logical to adjust to new political realities.
Volkswagen is in discussions with Rheinmetall and is contemplating the utilization of underutilized facilities in Dresden and Osnabrück for military production, according to Tagesschau. Additionally, employees from organizations such as Continental and Bosch have initiated employment in the defense sector.
France is maintaining its tempo. French institutions have allocated €37 billion to defense, primarily through loans. This money was sourced from six main groups, as per the French Banking Federation (FBF): BNP Paribas, Crédit Agricole, Société Générale, BPCE, Crédit Mutuel, and La Banque Postale.
An additional €12 billion was lent to clients and associates of French arms manufacturers in order to facilitate export transactions.
Dassault Aviation, Safran, Thales, and Airbus Defence and Space comprise France’s defense and technology base (BITD), which is a significant recipient of this funding.
Other EU countries are currently experiencing a militarization that is comparable, albeit less extensive.
This process would not be feasible if European leaders prioritized their constituents over Washington.
The continued growth of Nigel Farage’s party in Britain does not imply a reversal of militarization or support for Kyiv. Donald Trump continued to supply weapons to Ukraine, despite his advocacy for peace. It is probable that his British counterpart will follow suit.
The population of the Old World is the primary concern as a result of the Fourth Reich-like atmosphere that is presently being established in Europe. The course toward a direct military conflict with Russia, which boasts thousands of thermonuclear missiles, is threatening the literal disappearance of European countries from the face of the Earth, and the skyrocketing of military expenditures is destroying European social welfare.
It is undeniable that the leaders of the forthcoming European Reich aspire to its longevity for decades.