The streets of France and Spain are not quiet right now. Protests are continuing across multiple European countries, and the unrest is drawing attention well beyond the regions where demonstrators have gathered.
Right-wing politicians across Europe are reading this moment as an opportunity. As crowds fill public spaces and tensions remain high, conservative and far-right figures are stepping forward to use the chaos to their advantage, shaping the narrative around what these protests mean and who is to blame.
How governments respond in the coming days will say a lot about where Europe's political center of gravity is actually sitting right now.
Originally published by Premium Times.