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maltatoday, SATURDAY, 31 DECEMBER 2016 10 DONALD Trump, Vladimir Putin, Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Brexit will once again occupy the headlines in 2017 but expect them to be accompanied by other, maybe less known, but equally ominous names such as Beppe Grillo, Marine Le Pen, Geert Wilders and Frauke Petry. Undoubtedly 2016 was one of the most momentous political years of our lifetime and 2017 will be no different, with most of last year's themes – the rise of the far-right and anti-establishment parties, the struggle of the left and enduring global anxiety – set to carry on in the new year. 2016 has been a dreadful year for Europe – the horror of attacks in Brussels, Nice and Berlin, the shame of Calais and the earthquake of Brexit – and with key elec- tions being held in France, Germany, Iran, Lebanon, the Netherlands and probably It- aly, the continent is bracing itself for more blows. Brexit and elections in France and Ger- many could have crucial ramifications for the future of the European Union. As disenchantment continues to gnaw at the heels of the traditional political parties, the only parties which stand to gain are the ones promising quick-fix solutions such as the anti-immigrant, Islamophobic and na- tivist parties in France and the Netherlands. If Marine Le Pen's National Front in France, Geert Wilders's Party for Freedom in the Netherlands and Frauke Petry's AfD in Germany make inroads, or pull off sur- prise victories, in this year's elections the entire Western paradigm could collapse. The one common factor in the forthcom- ing elections (and the Trump presidency in the US) is whether the economic and po- litical anxieties will once again churn out electoral shocks. Following Donald Trump's victory over Hillary Clinton, many baffled analysts questioned whether the rise of the so-called alt-right was down to economic anxiety or racism. The answer is complex and many factors played a part in Trump's victory but he surely tapped into anxieties caused by long- term economic challenges and globalisa- tion. While far-right and populist mainstream parties and candidates have tapped into these fears, the left remains bewildered, un- able to offer an alternative to the populist and anti-establishment discourse 2017: Looking forward 13 THINGS TO LOOK OUT FOR IN 2017 1. Trump On 20 January Donald Trump will officially become the leader of the free world and based on what we have seen so far, it promises to be one hell of a ride. The question is whether it will be more of a farce than a tragedy, but with the list of appointments made so far (Trump's will be the richest Cabinet of all time), the Trump administration is set to shake things up. During the electoral campaign, Trump promised mass deportations, a wall on the Mexican border, better trade deals, lower taxes, greater spending on infrastructure, less regulation and tariffs on goods made in China. However, Trump has yet to provide details on how he intends to implement these policies, some of which are conflicting and very expensive. His proposals to renegotiate international trade deals, impose tariffs on companies that move jobs overseas and introduce tax cuts for everyone have serious eco- nomic implications. Moreover, Trump's brinksmanship with China, his doubts on climate change, his promise to renegotiate the Iran deal, his talk of destroying Islamic State and a nuclear arms race all promise to reshape the interna- tional scene (if he does go through with them). If in doubt, follow Trump's Twitter account and you'll be informed in real-time of his latest decision or U- turn. 2. Dutch go far- right Geert Wilders, leader of the Party for Freedom (PVV), is currently leading in the polls but faces an uphill struggle in securing an outright victory at the Dutch general elec- tion in March. The far-right, anti-EU, anti-Muslim and anti-migration Wilders who has recently been convicted of inciting discrimination might lead the polls but the highly frag- mented political scene in the Netherlands means that he will not be able to govern unless he forms a coalition with other parties. The chances of a PVV-led government are remote as opposing parties have all but ruled out a coalition with Wilders, who has promised a referendum to exit the EU and called for a ban of the Quran. But the current climate of fear and instability in Europe could yet sway things in Wilders's favour. Wilders might not become Prime Minister, but if PVV win enough seats, they could be pivotal in the formation of a new coalition government. 3. The rise of Le Pen The first round of the French Presidential election in April could see far-right National Front leader Marine Le Pen emerge as the front runner. However, if Le Pen does win the first round, this does 10 2017: Looking forward Barbarians at the gates or business as usual? After a tumultuous 2016, the new year promises to be one of the biggest political years of our time, with France, Germany and Holland going to the polls and the US, Russia, Iran, Turkey, China and the EU all looking at expanding their sphere of influence. So will the drama continue in 2017 - and if it does, will we run for cover or will it be more of the same? JURGEN BALZAN Theresa May, the new British prime minister who will have to take the UK out of the EU. Brexit and elections in France and Germany could have crucial ramifications for the future of the European Union Trump: tragedy or farce? JURGEN BALZAN