Jewish leader fears right-wing bloc ahead of European elections

President of the European Jewish Council Moshe Kantor gestures as he speaks during an interview with Reuters at the Presidential Palace in Warsaw July 7, 2009. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel

VIENNA (Reuters) - The European Jewish Congress fears far-right gains in upcoming European elections and believes a grouping presenting itself as simply populist and eurosceptical is just as dangerous as out-and-out extremists, the EJC's president said.

Some analysts forecast that a group of anti-euro parties could capture 20 percent of seats in May's European parliament elections as high unemployment, austerity and anaemic growth offer prime conditions for fringe parties to flourish.