The election was seen by some as a gauge on the rising influence of populism in Europe, which has made marks in national elections from Italy and France to Hungary and Poland in recent years. Populist parties made a notable impact, clinching about 25 percent of Parliament seats, compared to the roughly 20 percent they secured in the last election. Le Pen’s party won fewer seats than five years ago, but the symbolism was clear. The populist gains on a national level may not translate into influence on the European level, however. The movement looks very different from country to country, with priorities varying in each nation and disagreements among them on major issues like Russia and the European budget.

Source: New York Times May 27, 2019 13:29 UTC