A new right-wing alliance named 'Patriots for Europe' has been founded in the EU Parliament, spearheaded by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, former Austrian Interior Minister Herbert Kickl, and former Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš. This new faction aims to become the third strongest force in the EU Parliament, displacing the 'European Conservatives and Reformists' (ECR) group led by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
The 'Patriots for Europe' alliance brings together 84 members from 12 countries, surpassing the necessary threshold to form a parliamentary group. This new group includes members from right-wing populist parties such as the National Rally (RN) from France, the League of Matteo Salvini from Italy, and the Dutch Party for Freedom (PVV). Jordan Bardella, RN chairman, is expected to become the faction leader.
The formation of this alliance is seen as a strategic move to challenge and weaken the influence of Giorgia Meloni's ECR group. The new faction's 'Patriotic Manifesto' outlines its positions, which include rejecting migration, opposing the 'Green Deal,' and withdrawing support for Ukraine. The group also advocates for dismantling EU integration to enhance national sovereignty.
Despite the broad support from various right-wing populist parties across Europe, the German AfD will not be joining the 'Patriots for Europe.' The AfD was excluded from the 'Identity and Democracy' faction due to a scandal involving its EU lead candidate, Maximilian Krah. AfD leader Alice Weidel confirmed that joining the new alliance is not an option for her party.
The new alliance's formation comes after legislative elections in France, where the far-right National Rally made less progress than expected. Nevertheless, the RN's 30 MEPs will play a significant role in the new group, which aims to influence European policies on immigration, ecology, and national sovereignty.
