Globally, since the election of President Donald Trump in the United States in 2016, some of the most powerful democratic nations have seen major conservative shifts, specifically in the West.
Noteworthy is Giorgia Meloni in Italy, promising personal sovereignty. She’s been serving as the prime minister since October 2022 and was elected at a time when the country was reeling from the loss of freedoms arising from the pandemic lockdowns. She’s holding a holiday festival for conservatives, and she’s invited British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and champion of free speech Twitter/X owner Elon Musk.
Also, Geert Wilders of the Netherlands, known as the Dutch Donald Trump, recently came to power in the country. He did not get the votes to sit in the highest office, but his Party for Freedom now holds the majority. He’s anti-immigration, a problem plaguing Europe.
Finally, Javier Milei in Argentina, famous for pledging to take a chainsaw to the state, is a wild card. A former soccer player, you may have seen his face photoshopped onto the United States hundred dollar bill due to his dedication to sticking with the dollar and cutting economic ties with China. He’s vehemently opposed to socialism and he’s already eliminated nine bureaucratic agencies in his first days leading the country.
Do the elections of these populists signal a real turn away from a global totalitarian power overreach? We’ll find out with our guest journalists: veteran war correspondent Pierre Chiartano, TVP world host Michal Rachon, and editor-in-chief of Epoch Times Brasil Marcos Schotgues.
