Editorial: Far right has risen but democracy in Europe will prevail once we stand united

Yet, significantly, far-right parties have made considerable gains in these elections. Not only did they perform well in Germany, they comfortably won the vote in France, compelling President Emmanuel Macron to call a snap parliamentary election.

It would be foolish to interpret the vote as anything less than a shattering blow to the standing of both Mr Macron and German chancellor Olaf Scholz.

The surge in support for the right is also likely to tilt the new European parliament towards a more anti-­immigration and anti-green stance.

“I’ve decided to give you back the choice,” a chastened Mr Macron said, addressing the electorate from the Elysee Palace. There can be no playing down Marine Le Pen’s party winning 31.5pc of the vote there.

In Germany, the three parties in Mr Scholz’s coalition were all overtaken by the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). Ultraconservative and nationalist parties also won or made significant gains in Austria, Cyprus, Greece and the Netherlands.

Clearly there has been a major shift in attitudes.

A discernible pushback against those pressing for closer co-operation and integration in the bloc is emerging. The tightly co-ordinated responses to Covid-19, and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, may be creating divisions.

In this country there was no major breakthrough for the far right. While some anti-immigration candidates have had a showing, there has been no big swing.

Taoiseach Simon Harris and Tánaiste Micheál Martin, buoyed by the results, vowed not to be in a hurry to rush into a general election. Not for now, at least.

But the temptation to do so as Sinn Féin reels from its poor performance remains.

If there is some comfort that the centre is holding at home, in Brussels and Strasbourg – where the European Parliament meets – there is growing unease.

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen says she will approach social democratic and liberal parties that she has worked with in the past to form a majority. But there is no sense of unshakeable confidence or chutzpah. She has pledged to continue to work to build a “strong Europe”.

There’s no denying these results have not made her task any easier. That there are problems is clear, but there are also solutions – provided we are united and not divided against each other.

As one of the continent’s great visionaries, Jean Monnet, put it: “Europe has never existed. One must genuinely create Europe.”

Responsibility for that creation and holding it together belongs to us all. The EU is, and must always be, a work in progress.