People are going to keep voting further and further right until someone listens to their demands on legal and illegal immigration. In most European countries it is the largest single issue polled. What frustrates me immensely is that so many centrist and left wing parties all over Europe have the opportunity to rein in record high immigration in a sensible and pragmatic way right now - but refuse to do so. They would rather lose the next election and hand over all control of this issue to the right, who will not use care and consideration. They will leave the ECHR and re-write their humanitarian laws to reject all asylum claimants and deport every single person in the country illegally. Refusing to listen to voters and compromise on such a major issue isn’t a principled stance. It just guarantees an even worse outcome.

I think my country of Denmark has a decent balance. I hope other European countries can find balance and compromise. This problem won’t go away on its own. It will get worse until leaders listen to voters. That’s how democracy works - especially if they disagree with the voters.