Dear readers,

In recent months, parliamentary elections have been held in Italy, Bulgaria, and Sweden. The different starting points have led to a similar result: the strengthening of the right-wing forces and increasing pressure on the centre and the left.

In Italy, after the coalition of "Fratelli d'Italia" (FdI), "Lega" and "Forza Italia" won a clear absolute majority of seats in both houses of parliament, the next government led by the right-wing alliance will strongly influence civil rights, the persecution of immigrants, women's rights, abortion, lesbian, gay and bisexual rights, education, etc.

In the Swedish parliamentary elections, the right-wing conservative coalition (for the first time with the participation of the right-wing populist Sweden Democrats) won a narrow majority.

In Bulgaria, a complicated government formation process is in the offing after the conservative party of Boyko Borisov, the former Prime Minister, won the parliamentary elections.

For detailed analyses of the election results and their implications, please check our blog, which also includes an interesting book review by Conny Hildebrandt of the recent publication "Facing the New Far Right in Southern Europe", edited by the Coppieters Foundation and the Fundació nexe.

For an overview of events on current issues organised by transform! europe and its partner organisations, please check our calendar.

In addition, you will find a link in the newsletter to our latest publication "The EU Recovery and Resilience Programmes after COVID-19".

We wish you stimulating reading!
Štefica Gazibara, web editor for transform! europe