After gaining hold in Europe, populism spreads across Asia

Fiscal austerity hampers growth amid growing social divide

20190524 Modi populism.jpg

Populist policies ahead of elections are also common in India and Thailand.

KYO KITAZUME, RINTARO HOSOKAWA and JUN ISHIKAWA, Nikkei staff writers

GENEVA/BERLIN/ATHENS -- Populism is on the rise across Europe, with eurosceptics expected to sharply increase their seats in the latest European Parliament elections, and the populist wave is reverberating through Asia as well.

Eurosceptic populists, who criticize the European Union and regional integration while advocating handouts and anti-immigration policies, are winning increased support from voters as the continent is caught in an economic slowdown under EU rules imposing strict fiscal discipline.

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