Prior to the deadly attack, few figures of the European rising right-wing movement had spoken of Charlie Kirk. After last week, however, political value of his death is clear to all.
The Incident
The conservative figure, an influential voice within Donald Trump’s Maga movement, was struck by a bullet while addressing students in Utah on September 10. A 22-year-old suspect faces accusations, though the reasons behind the act remain unclear.
Seizing the Narrative
That has not stopped, right-wing leaders from across the continent seizing on the tragedy to attack progressive movements, framing Kirk’s death as the logical conclusion of what they portray a long-running smear effort designed to muzzling them.
“We must stop the divisive left!” stated Viktor Orbán. Spain’s Vox leader went further: “Censorship isn’t enough for them – so they resort to violence.”
Jordan Bardella argued that “dehumanising rhetoric from opponents … encourages extremist acts”. Alice Weidel remarked the activist had been targeted by “a fanatic who opposes our way of life”.
Martyrdom Narrative
The objective, experts say, is to elevate him to the role of a martyr for the conservative cause, and a victim of liberal-progressive persecution – at the same time giving greater legitimacy to their views, and harming their opponents.
“Symbolic victimhood is a narrative tool to transform a ethically wrong crime into a story,” commented a historian. “Here, the far right is constructing a plot of targeting, with one executioner: the left.”
Several on Europe’s far right were surprisingly candid about making use of the killing. “There’s no shame in using Kirk’s death – or putting a tragedy to good use,” urged a strategist close to Marine Le Pen’s circle.
Rallying Support
At a far-right gathering organized by a Spanish party in the capital, a emotional montage to the activist wowed the audience. To loud cheers, Abascal told attendees that the left “attack us for being fascists – they label us in order to kill us”.
Portugal’s Chega leader claimed the act showed that “arguing over ideas” had given way to “hatred, targeting and killing”. Giorgia Meloni addressed the crowd, stating that Kirk’s “sacrifice … demonstrates clearly which side the aggression and bigotry are on … Our fight tirelessly for our people’s freedom.”
In London, a large protest organized by a British activist – including far-right figures from multiple countries, Belgium, and abroad – held a moment of remembrance for their hero.
A Continent on the March
This might matter less if right-wing parties were not gaining ground. Populist and far-right parties are in government in several nations, Hungary, Belgium, and Slovakia, and are the leading parties in France, the Netherlands, the Czechia, and the UK.
Up north and the Balkans, they are part of conservative-led coalitions, and in Sweden, they provide parliamentary support to a coalition. In the south, a party is gaining popularity, and in the Iberian Peninsula, its counterpart is in the lead before upcoming votes.
Worryingly, hardline far-right policies – on migration, Islam, the environment, European unity, social norms – are gaining acceptance throughout the continent as mainstream parties ape them in a vain attempt to keep their vote shares.
Holding the Line
Through a strongly-worded article, a French MEP – who faced intimidation after objecting to calls for a tribute for Kirk – wrote that while the murder was an abomination, he had “promoted division, demanded women stay at home, demonised LGBT rights, accused Jewish people for promoting immigration … and equated reproductive rights to the genocide”.
She was the only one to speak out and demand that a difference be made between denouncing the assassination and endorsing the victim’s views.
“It is not honoring the deceased they demand; it’s the justification to attack the people who do not resemble them … It is not freedom of speech they champion, it is the normalisation of their extremism. Across the Atlantic, as in the EU.”
Today, resisting the concerted call for making him a symbol – “staying calm, remaining true to what we are” – is of paramount importance.
