Saxony is a Symptom (Pedro García Cuartango in El ABC)

The crisis of traditional parties and the rise of nationalist formations, as seen in **Saxony**, signals a profound shift in the European political landscape. The old order, founded on the welfare state and stability, appears to be buckling under new challenges.

## The Erosion of the Old Order

The resounding victory of **Alternative for Germany (AfD)** in **Lower Saxony** is not an isolated event. It is a clear symptom that the European political balance, established after the **Second World War**, is becoming precarious. The parties that once dominated the scene—both Christian Democrats and Social Democrats—are watching their hegemony crumble in the face of advancing ultra-conservative and nationalist formations. This phenomenon is repeating itself in other countries, such as **France**, where figures like **Marine Le Pen** are gaining ground.

The world we knew, marked by a welfare state that brought prosperity and stability, seems to belong to the past. Generations who grew up believing that parliamentary democracies, social pogre, and human rights were irreversible conquests are mistaken. The war in **Ukraine**, the instability in **Iran**, the emergence of figures like **Donald Trump**, migration flows, technological advances, globalization, environmental disasters, and state debt have eroded the foundations of that order.

## Politics as Spectacle and Volatility

We live in an era where politics has transformed into a spectacle, and public opinion exhibits extreme volatility. Despite this, we struggle to accept that the world has changed and that the pillars upon which we built our lives are now fragile. The parties in power, both at European and national levels, have lost the trust of a significant portion of the electorate. The inability to face challenges, such as the episode in **Ceuta**, highlights not only poor management but also the vulnerability of our way of life.

The history teaches us that major transformations, such as the French Revolution or the collapse of the Tsarist empire, often occur surprisingly, without anyone fully aware of the breakdown of existing structures. We could be experiencing something similar: an inability to grasp the magnitude of changes already underway and to react to them. If we do not find adequate answers, demagoguery and populism could erode the advances that have made our society better.