Far-right governments seek to cut billions from research

A surge in far-right parties entering governments across Europe is raising concerns for science. The parties, whose focus is typically immigration, care little about research, say policy experts, writes David Matthews for Nature.

In the Netherlands – where the Party for Freedom (PVV), led by the anti-Islam firebrand Geert Wilders, entered a coalition government in July – researchers are bracing for €1 billion (US$1.1 billion) in cuts to the budget, the worst in decades.

Italy, Hungary, Slovakia and Croatia have also elected governments that include far-right parties. In June, populist parties made gains in the European Parliament elections. And in September, the far-right Freedom Party of Austria topped polls in a legislative election. Although there are exceptions, these parties are typically not interested in research and innovation, says Léonie de Jonge, who specialises in far-right parties at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, leaving scientists vulnerable to cuts.
Full report on the Nature site