Germany’s centrist leaders might want to listen to the message voters have been sending loud and clear: if they want to prevent a drift towards extremism, they’ll need to offer a far bolder vision for the country. And if Germany falls, well, Europe might have a very awkward problem—especially with its neighbour, France, tiptoeing towards the same precipice.

The latest wake-up call came from regional elections in Saxony and Thuringia, where the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) made unsettling gains, even winning Thuringia—an alarming first for a party whose local leader casually peppers his speeches with banned Nazi slogans.

But the sudden rise of the far-left Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance was just as revealing. This new political force launched only in January and has already tapped into the same public discontent that’s propelled the AfD’s surge.

Over in France, the story isn’t much rosier. Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally is lurking in the wings, perpetually gaining momentum, while President Emmanuel Macron’s centrism seems to be getting more stale by the day. Both Germany and France—Europe’s twin economic engines—are flirting dangerously with political extremes, and if both fall, the continent’s future could take a very uncomfortable turn.

A decade ago, Germany was Europe’s golden child, its export-driven economy booming, and its climate efforts were pioneering globally. Merkel’s bold and controversial decision to welcome a million refugees seemed the epitome of European idealism. Fast forward to now, and things have become less flattering. Volkswagen, the industrial crown jewel, is contemplating its first factory closure in Germany in 87 years. The trains, once reliable, now run late (when they run at all). And on the climate front, bungled policies have alienated everyone from homeowners to farmers.

As in France, Macron’s reforms have sparked protests, discontent is brewing, and many French voters seem ready to hand over the keys to the far right as well. When the two largest economies in Europe both flirt with extremism, one has to wonder: What happens to the European project?

Germany’s economic decline isn’t just about the post-war energy shock or China’s increasing dominance—it’s also about stifling bureaucracy, chronic underinvestment, and a growing sense that the country is neutral.

If Germany and France—the backbone of the EU—succumb to extremism, the entire European project could face severe existential threats. A Europe where far-right or far-left populists run the two largest economies doesn’t precisely scream stability.

The ruling coalition in Germany comprises Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s centre-left Social Democrats, Christian Lindner’s pro-business liberals, and Robert Habeck’s Greens. However, they have failed to inspire much confidence. Instead of leading with bold ideas, they’ve been bogged down in squabbles over fiscal policy and have made only half-hearted attempts to kickstart growth. Meanwhile, Scholz has been busy making tactical concessions to the right—like toughening asylum rules and limiting aid to Ukraine, decisions that could potentially alienate specific population segments. In France, Macron’s government hasn’t exactly been setting the world on fire, with disillusionment growing on both the left and right.

Here, we find ourselves with two of Europe’s largest economies on the brink, both struggling to contain their extremist elements. The firewall keeping the AfD at bay in Germany may hold for now, just as Le Pen has been kept from the Élysée Palace, but it’s fragile. If Germany and France both fall into the hands of extremists, where does that leave the EU? This is undoubtedly an uncomfortable question for Brussels.

In short, if the centrists in Germany and France hope to regain control of their countries from the extremists, they’ll need to offer something more than just the same tired policies. They’ll need a vision that’s bold, inspiring, and long overdue. If not, the slide into populism could be inevitable, and Europe might find itself dangerously divided despite its rhetoric of unity.