Political movements across Europe are intensifying efforts to have anti-fascist activism formally designated as terrorism, following similar calls from former U.S. President Donald Trump. The campaign has gained momentum in multiple European nations and within the European Parliament.
In the Netherlands, where Geert Wilders’ Party for Freedom holds significant influence, lawmakers recently passed a resolution urging the government to declare anti-fascist groups terrorist organizations. The move came shortly after Trump announced similar intentions for the United States.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán subsequently declared his country would pursue comparable measures. Meanwhile, in the European Parliament, a Flemish nationalist politician revealed that 79 members from 20 countries support a resolution calling for the anti-fascist movement to be classified as a terrorist network.
Security analysts question the practicality of such designations, noting that anti-fascist activism lacks the structured organization typically associated with terrorist groups. “This appears more as a political label than a security classification,” explained one terrorism studies expert. “Law enforcement agencies typically focus on specific criminal acts rather than broad ideological movements.”
The debate has intensified following the case of an Italian activist and European Parliament member who faced detention in Hungary over allegations of assaulting individuals with far-right sympathies. The activist maintains the charges are politically motivated and that she cannot receive a fair trial in Hungary, where concerns about judicial independence persist.
Critics argue that labeling anti-fascist activism as terrorism represents a dangerous politicization of security policy. “This approach essentially criminalizes political opposition and threatens fundamental democratic freedoms,” commented a left-wing European Parliament leader.
The transatlantic coordination on this issue reflects broader ideological alignment between American and European conservative movements. Policy analysts observe that culture war issues originating in the United States are increasingly being adopted by European political parties seeking to mobilize their bases and create political polarization.
The controversy highlights ongoing tensions between security concerns and civil liberties in contemporary European politics, with significant implications for protest rights and political dissent across the continent.
