The problem is that there's no organised progressive movement in Europe. There are plenty of issue-based factions and interest groups promoting their own special interests. And plenty of oppositional protest.

But there's no single-point progressive focus for the whole of Europe.

The Right, meanwhile, has been trying to prepare and organise, and it has plenty of support on issues like immigration (i.e. xenophobia) and tax cuts (i.e. 'I've got mine - fuck you.')

Plurality is always a progressive weakness. No matter how correct we are, practical politics demands strong and charismatic leadership, or - at worst - capable and tough not-so charismatic leadership.

Policies don't just happen because they're the right choice, they have to be sold. And the Right is always much better at selling than progressives seem to be.