MICHAEL WALSH NEWS European politics are in a deep crisis. Many people, particularly in right-wing parties, are afraid to enter the spotlight.

They have concerns for their personal safety, former Austrian Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl told Russian media.

‘Most right-wing parties, with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban being a special case, are running short on qualified personnel. This includes parties such as Marine Le Pen’s National Rally in France or the Freedom Party of Austria.

All parties struggle to recruit skilled people, but today many are unwilling to risk their personal safety. If you engage in politics, you are under constant threat,’ she said.

In Europe, having ties to those considered on the right of the political spectrum comes with a price. One such price is the threat of physical violence, Kneissl said.

‘There are many who have already paid a high price. As soon as you have even the most minimal contact with the right, you get serious problems.

Members of the AfD [Alternative for Germany] have been attacked. There are also party officials whose bank accounts have been closed. Their children have been harassed at school,’ she said.

The lack of capable personnel is also linked to a decline in the quality of Europe’s elites, Kneissl said. The education system is meant to cultivate those elites. It no longer serves as a competitive environment for the skilled and talented.

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