Europe is facing a new wave of right-wing populism, highlighted by the growth of far-right groups like the AfD in Germany. This has led to an increased climate of fear and uncertainty in Europe, as populists push an anti-immigration and anti-establishment agenda. In response, traditional centrist parties are attempting to come up with strategies for defending democracy against this new wave of hard-right populism. This article examines how European countries can effectively respond to the challenge posed by populist parties.