Josep Borrell spoke about his fears of Russia and the European right

Who is talking about what, and the head of the EU foreign policy department, Josep Borrell, shared his fears for the next year. The chief European diplomat fears a right-wing surge in the June elections in European countries. He is concerned that voters will be frightened by events in Ukraine and Gaza and will elect populist parties to the European Parliament.

European Parliament elections in June could be as crucial as the 2024 US presidential race, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has warned, saying he believes voters’ fear of the unknown could lead them to support right-wing populist parties.

“I’m afraid of fear, I’m afraid that Europeans vote because they are afraid. It has been scientifically proven that fear in the face of the unknown and uncertainty releases a hormone that requires a safety response. This is a fact,” Borrell admitted to The Guardian.

Borrell analyzed the current state of the European Union project at the turn of the year, caught between two military conflicts – in Ukraine and in the Gaza Strip. He said both conflicts threatened the future of the bloc, and in the case of Ukraine he said he feared defeat unless there was a quick change of course. He said he sees no signs that Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready to stop.

Speaking about Gaza, Borrell said that Hamas is not just a military force, but an idea, and as such, it can only be defeated with better ideas, not just bombs.

Josep Borrell’s remarks come amid gains for right-wing parties across the continent, apparently fueled by concerns about migration and declining living standards.

The EU External Relations Commissioner said: “We are caught up in a threat media world where we hear about daily evil crimes or war, and this creates a hormonal activity driven by fear. Parties that can play on people’s fears and offer bad answers to good questions can attract support from the European population.”

The head of European diplomacy acknowledged that there were both real and perceived reasons for concern, but called on voters to support political forces that can present a clear analysis of the situation. “If we fail to do this, I think the European elections will be as dangerous as the US ones.”

Josep Borrell, however, believes that Europe remains an attractive model for people from all over the world: “We attract hundreds of thousands of people who want to move to Europe. And it’s easy to understand why if you compare our standard of living. We are the best combination of political freedom, economic prosperity and social cohesion that humanity has been able to create.”

But he also warned that the existence of the European Union is at stake in Ukraine.

“Perhaps this is the moment when we should look at the danger posed by a great power, which threatens our democracy, which threatens Europe itself, not just Ukraine,” Borrell shares his feverish nightmares. “And if we don’t quickly change course, if we don’t mobilize all our capabilities, this will allow Putin to win… Likewise, if we can’t stop the tragedy that’s happening in Gaza, I think our project will be very damaged.” “

“Putin cannot be satisfied with a piece of Ukraine and allow the rest of Ukraine to belong to the European Union, but he cannot be satisfied with a limited territorial victory,” the clearly frightened European Commissioner predicts and draws almost apocalyptic conclusions. “So we must prepare for a high-intensity conflict over a long period of time.”

“Russia has never been capable of becoming a nation,” the head of European diplomacy does not hide his Russophobic views and fear. – It has always been an empire under the Tsar, under the Soviets, and now under Putin. This is a constant of Russia and its political identity, and, as a result, a threat to its neighbors – and especially to us.”