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Just 20 years ago there was a global meltdown when national populists took power in Austria. Today, they can finish 1st in France, Hungary, Italy, Poland & the UK, consolidate elsewhere & people say "meh not that bad". Populism has been normalised. It's gone mainstream. It's won. 
I remember 1999-2000 well, as I was in Austria at the time. The EU swiftly imposed diplomatic sanctions on the Austrian government although, revealingly, this was not repeated when the Freedom Party returned to government two years ago.
Look at the 1999 EP results and it looks like a different Europe.
Le Pen on 5.7%, Lega on 4.5%, UKIP on 6.5%, Belgian VB on 9.4%. No successful populists in Germany. Nothing in Netherlands or Sweden. The Austrian FPO was the only party to make it above 20% -& still finished 3rd.
Le Pen on 5.7%, Lega on 4.5%, UKIP on 6.5%, Belgian VB on 9.4%. No successful populists in Germany. Nothing in Netherlands or Sweden. The Austrian FPO was the only party to make it above 20% -& still finished 3rd.
