Britain's floppy-haired Boris Johnson and the United States' orange-tanned Donald Trump set the pace. Then, last month, Argentinian oddball Javier Milei was elected president, and only a week later, Dutch neo-fascist Geert Wilders managed to get the most votes in the Netherlands' parliamentary election.
A year earlier, Italian voters took a similarly hard right turn. Shortly before that, the far-right in Sweden and Finland became part of their respective coalition governments. And here in Germany, the far-right Alternative for Germany keeps rising in the polls.
It's the second-most popular party in the country. French and Austrian extremists are doing similarly well.
The nicest thing you can say about all of the latter is that at least they have hairdressers (although the Swedish fellows all appear to share a fetish for slicked-back hair, à la the 2000 movie American Psycho).
Denne historien er fra January 2 - 12, 2024-utgaven av New Zealand Listener.
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Denne historien er fra January 2 - 12, 2024-utgaven av New Zealand Listener.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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First-world problem
Harrowing tales of migrants attempting to enter the US highlight the political failure to fully tackle the problem.
Applying intelligence to AI
I call it the 'Terminator Effect', based on the premise that thinking machines took over the world.
Nazism rears its head
Smirky Höcke, with his penchant for waving with a suspiciously straight elbow and an open palm, won't get to be boss of either state.
Staying ahead of the game
Will the brave new world of bipartisanship that seems to be on offer with an Infrastructure Commission come to fruition?
Grasping the nettle
Broccoli is horrible. It smells, when being cooked, like cat pee.
Hangry? Eat breakfast
People who don't break their fast first thing in the morning report the least life satisfaction.
Chemical reaction
Nitrates in processed meats are well known to cause harm, but consumed from plant sources, their effect is quite different.
Me and my guitar
Australian guitarist Karin Schaupp sticks to the familiar for her Dunedin concerts.
Time is on my side
Age does not weary some of our much-loved musicians but what keeps them on the road?
The kids are not alright
Nuanced account details how China's blessed generation has been replaced by one consumed by fear and hopelessness.
