The right-wing political landscape in Europe is undergoing significant changes. The Alternative for Germany (AfD) has decided to leave the Identity and Democracy (ID) party alliance in the European Parliament. This decision was announced by Peter Boehringer, the deputy party leader, at the AfD party conference in Essen. The move follows the exclusion of the AfD from the ID group after controversial comments by Maximilian Krah, the AfD's top candidate, about the National Socialist SS.
The AfD's departure from the ID alliance leaves the party without a group in the European Parliament, putting it at a disadvantage. Political groups in the EU Parliament enjoy numerous benefits, including more speaking time in debates, additional staff and financial resources, and more office space in Brussels. They also play a crucial role in shaping the Parliament's agenda and organizing committees and delegations.
In a parallel development, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Austrian Freedom Party (FPÖ) leader Herbert Kickl, and former Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš of the ANO party have announced the formation of a new political alliance. This alliance, named 'Patriots for Europe,' aims to involve other European parties to create a stronger right-wing presence in the EU Parliament. The new group seeks to address issues such as national sovereignty, illegal immigration, and the war between Russia and Ukraine.
The 'Patriots for Europe' alliance currently includes Orbán's Fidesz party with 10 seats, Kickl's FPÖ with 6 seats, and Babiš's ANO with 7 seats. To form an official group in the European Parliament, they need at least 23 MEPs from seven different countries. The alliance is actively seeking additional members to meet this requirement. If the AfD joins this new alliance, it would bring the total number of seats to 38, making it easier to form a parliamentary group.
Herbert Kickl emphasized that this new political alliance is a path of reason, aiming to anchor national competences to the homeland and revive the pluralistic character of Europe. The alliance is not interested in destroying Europe but seeks to prevent the development of a European superstate that undermines the sovereignty and self-determination of individual member states.
- The AfD's decision to leave the ID alliance was expected for some time and came shortly after Orbán's visit to Vienna. The federal executive board of the AfD had been granted the authority to make such decisions by a two-thirds majority of the delegates.
- The exclusion of the AfD from the ID group in the European Parliament was a significant blow to the party, especially given the advantages enjoyed by political groups in the Parliament. The AfD had hoped that excluding Krah from its group would lead to a reconciliation with the ID group, but this did not materialize.
- The formation of the 'Patriots for Europe' alliance comes at a critical time as the deadline for forming new groups in the European Parliament is approaching. The first plenary session of the European Chamber is scheduled for 16 July, and the new alliance aims to be fully constituted by then.
- Herbert Kickl, in his press conference, highlighted the importance of national sovereignty and the need for a political turning point in Europe. He expressed confidence that more parties would join the 'Patriots for Europe' movement, strengthening the alliance's position in the European Parliament.
- The new alliance also aims to find a peaceful solution to the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, emphasizing the need for a united and strong Europe that respects the sovereignty of its member states.
