The political behavior of young people in a changing Europe

Saturday, Feb 28, 2026

EFSYN

Youth voting patterns across Europe show complex trends, often defying simple right-wing narratives.

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[This is an automatically generated summary, for reference only]

The rise of the far-right in Europe is driven by diverse socio-economic and political causes across all social classes, yet public discourse often focuses on youth voting patterns. In Greece, dissatisfaction among citizens under 35 with democratic institutions does not translate into support for conservative forces but rather calls for political renewal. Recent elections show that younger voters do not align strongly with the right; instead, they favor SYRIZA and PASOK, while parties like KKE and Mera25 have increased their support among 17-34 year olds. In the 2024 European elections, ND lost its lead to SYRIZA among young voters. A study by Eteron indicates that for those aged 25-34, socialism is the most popular ideology, followed by communism, with a universal rejection of austerity measures. Experts suggest the distinct political profile of the 25-34 age group stems from experiencing the crisis and austerity firsthand, while younger generations are in a post-austerity phase exhibiting more eclectic views. Across various European countries, youth voting patterns show complexity: Italian youth favored progressive parties over the ruling center-right; French young voters showed support for both far-right and radical left candidates, though high abstention limits their impact; Hungarian youth increasingly demand systemic change away from Fidesz; while in Austria, values are synthesized rather than strictly ideological. Conversely, Bulgaria shows a clear trend of young voters supporting new nationalist or anti-establishment parties due to political instability. Gender plays a role, with right-wing parties having a male base and left/social democratic parties drawing more female support. Overall, youth preferences do not consistently drive the rise of the far-right across Europe; rather, they often reflect dissatisfaction with established politics.

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