Leaders | Von der Leyen, Meloni and Le Pen

The three women who will shape Europe

At a crucial moment they encapsulate the dilemma of how to handle populism

Ursula von der Leyen, Giorgia Meloni and Marine Le Pen
image: The Economist/Getty Images

In a dangerous world, comfortable old Europe finds itself in an alarming position. In Ukraine the continent’s bloodiest war since 1945 rages on, while Russia poses a menace from the Baltics to cyberspace. If Donald Trump returns to the White House, he could undermine nato, the foundation of European security. The continent’s economy is vulnerable to shocks caused by industrial policy and protectionism elsewhere. Eurosceptic populists are riding high in the polls.

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This article appeared in the Leaders section of the print edition under the headline “The three women who will shape Europe”

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