Does Zohran Mamdani’s Victory in New York Signal the Burst of Nigel Farage’s Bubble?
By David Behrens
This week in New York, citizens chose a Muslim mayor in clear defiance of the president’s nationalist rhetoric. Meanwhile, in the Netherlands, the far-right Party for Freedom suffered a decisive defeat.
Across the Atlantic, Nigel Farage’s loose coalition of Reform UK councillors seemed to be collapsing, fleeing the political stage like performers escaping a disaster. This series of events raises the question: has the wave of right-wing populism, embodied by Farage, already reached its peak?
A Difficult Week for Politicians
It has been another punishing few days for politicians across the spectrum. On Monday, it became clear that Farage, despite his Elon Musk-style bravado about “chainsawing bureaucracy,” mirrors the very establishment figures he claims to oppose.
Retreating from Promises
Just two days before Rachel Reeves hinted at potential tax hikes, Farage made a similar move by softening his previous pledge to cut £90 billion in taxes if elected. His defense was that it had only ever been “an aspiration.”
“It was only ever an aspiration,” Farage said, later turning to the familiar tactic of blaming predecessors for leaving behind a deeper crisis than anticipated.
He also declined to confirm his support for maintaining the pensions triple-lock, a measure protecting older citizens from rising inflation.
Author’s Summary
The political tide appears to be turning as Farage’s populist momentum falters while progressive shifts emerge in both New York and Europe.