A disturbing political realignment is sweeping across Europe as centre-right parties adopt increasingly populist tactics, using immigration as their primary weapon to challenge the established human rights framework that has protected citizens for generations.
The Stealth Campaign Against Human Rights
What began as rhetorical opposition has evolved into a coordinated assault on the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). Political factions that once operated within the convention's framework are now actively working to dismantle it from within, arguing that the system has been "weaponised" by migrants and their advocates.
From Criticism to Constitutional Crisis
The situation has escalated far beyond political posturing. Several European nations are now flouting binding rulings from the Strasbourg-based European Court of Human Rights, creating an unprecedented constitutional crisis that threatens the entire continental rights protection system.
The British government's Rwanda deportation policy represents a key battleground in this conflict, with ministers openly considering withdrawing from the ECHR rather than complying with court judgments.
Why Immigration Became the Wedge Issue
Immigration has emerged as the perfect political vehicle for this assault on human rights institutions. The emotional charge surrounding border control allows politicians to:
- Frame human rights as privileges being abused by "others"
- Position national sovereignty against international law
- Create a narrative of "common sense" versus "judicial activism"
- Mobilise voter resentment against distant, unaccountable institutions
The Normalisation of Extreme Positions
Mainstream conservative parties across Europe have increasingly adopted rhetoric and policies once confined to the far-right fringe. The discussion has shifted from how to protect human rights to whether certain groups deserve protection at all.
A System Under Existential Threat
The European Convention on Human Rights represents one of the continent's most significant post-war achievements. Established in the shadow of fascism and war, it created a binding legal framework to prevent a return to authoritarianism and protect fundamental freedoms.
Today, that system faces its gravest challenge since inception. The defection of centre-right parties from the human rights consensus has created a political environment where previously unthinkable options – including withdrawal from the convention – are becoming mainstream policy proposals.
The Domino Effect of Non-Compliance
When major European nations ignore ECHR rulings, it creates a dangerous precedent that weaker democracies may follow. The authority of the court relies entirely on voluntary compliance, and each act of defiance makes the next one easier to justify.
What Lies Ahead for European Rights Protection
The coming years will determine whether the European human rights framework can survive this coordinated political assault. The battle lines are clearly drawn between those who see the convention as a living document essential to modern democracy and those who view it as an obstacle to national sovereignty and effective governance.
What remains uncertain is whether centre-right parties will continue their drift toward populism or whether a new consensus can emerge that addresses legitimate concerns about migration while preserving fundamental rights protections for all.
