However, migration-critical parties on the right made notable gains, particularly in founding EU member states like France and Italy.
In Germany, the center-right CDU/CSU emerged as the top party with 30% of the vote, but the far-right Alternative für Deutschland surged to second place with 15.9%, a development that has alarmed German Church leaders.
According to CNA Deutsch, CNA’s German-language news partner, Bishop Franz-Josef Overbeck of Essen warned that the “strengthening of right-wing populist forces” is a wake-up call to “defend our democracy with all our strength.”
Meanwhile, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party triumphed, but voter turnout slipped below 50%.
Italian bishops, led by Cardinal Matteo Zuppi of Bologna, had encouraged active participation in the elections to shape Europe’s future.
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