Patriots for Europe

Last updated

Patriots for Europe
European Parliament group
Logo of the Patriots for Europe (October 2024).svg
English abbr.PfE
Patriots
Ideology
Political position Right-wing [14] to far-right [18]
European parties Patriots.eu (majority)
European Christian Political Movement (minority)
From8 July 2024;6 months ago (8 July 2024)
Preceded by Identity and Democracy
Chaired by Jordan Bardella
MEP(s)
86 / 720

Patriots for Europe (PfE or Patriots) is a right-wing to far-right sovereigntist [3] political group, formed as the third-largest group ahead of the tenth European Parliament.

Contents

The group includes all but one member from the Identity and Democracy group and members from other groups. The group could also coordinate the work of its members at the European Council and the Council of the European Union. [19]

History

Formation

Fidesz had been unaffiliated at the European level since leaving the European People's Party Group (EPP Group) in March 2021. ANO MEPs belonged to the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party and its affiliated Renew Europe group since 2011, but left both organisations after the 2024 European Parliament elections, citing disagreements with the party's programme. The Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) belonged to the far-right Identity and Democracy (ID) group during the ninth term (2019–2024). [20]

On 30 June 2024, the founding of the group was announced at a press conference in Vienna by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán (Fidesz), former Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO 2011), and former Austrian Minister of the Interior Herbert Kickl and MEP Harald Vilimsky (both Freedom Party of Austria). [21] [22] [23] Representatives of the three founding parties signed "A Patriotic Manifesto for a European Future", [24] [25] [26] setting out the alliance's ideological positions, including weakening the EU, a focus on European cultural identity, opposition to illegal immigration, and a revision of the European Green Deal. [27]

On 1 July, the nationalist Portuguese party Chega, with two MEPs, became the fourth member of the Patriots for Europe. [28] [29] On 5 July, the Spanish Vox party also joined, leaving the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group. [30] The same day, the Dutch Party for Freedom (PVV), formerly part of the ID Group, also announced it would join. [31] On 6 July, the Danish People's Party and Vlaams Belang, both part of the ID group, announced they would also join, bringing the group above the minimum number of member states required for an official European Parliament group. [32] [33] On 8 July, the National Rally (RN) and Lega were announced as new members of the group. [34] [35] The prerequisite for establishing a political group of the European Parliament is the membership of at least 23 MEPs from at least seven EU member states. The alliance met this criterion on 6 July 2024. [36] According to Le Monde , the RN waited until after the second round of the 2024 French legislative election for the announcement "for fear of reviving suspicion of pro-Russian sympathies". [37]

Potential members

During the formation process, parties previously speculated as possible members of the new EU Group included: [38] [39] [40]

10th European Parliament (2024–present)

On 8 July, Jordan Bardella, president of the French National Rally (RN), was named as the group's president. [53] [54] [55]

The Polish Confederation's National Movement, which won two MEPs, announced in July 2024 that it was in negotiations with Patriots for Europe, while the three Confederation MEPs from New Hope joined the ESN group, and the one Confederation of the Polish Crown MEP was not seeking to join. [56] [57] [58] Ultimately, the National Movement joined Patriots for Europe on 1 October. [59]

MEPs

10th European Parliament

Patriots for Europe has MEPs in 13 member states. Dark purple indicates member states sending multiple MEPs, light purple indicates member states sending a single MEP. Patriots for Europe MEPs map.svg
Patriots for Europe has MEPs in 13 member states. Dark purple indicates member states sending multiple MEPs, light purple indicates member states sending a single MEP.
StateNational party Former political group European partyMEPs [60]
Flag of Austria.svg  Austria Freedom Party of Austria
Freiheitliche Partei Österreichs (FPÖ)
Identity and Democracy Patriots.eu
6 / 20
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium Flemish Interest
Vlaams Belang(VB)
Identity and Democracy Patriots.eu
3 / 22
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic ANO 2011
ANO 2011(ANO)
Renew Europe [a] Patriots.eu
7 / 21
Přísaha Civic Movement [61]
Přísaha občanské hnutí (Přísaha)
N/A Patriots.eu [62]
1 / 21
Motorists for Themselves [63]
Motoristé sobě (AUTO)
N/A Patriots.eu
1 / 21
Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark Danish People's Party
Dansk Folkeparti(DF)
Identity and Democracy None
1 / 15
Flag of France.svg  France National Rally
Rassemblement National (RN)
Identity and Democracy Patriots.eu
30 / 81
Flag of Greece.svg  Greece Voice of Reason
Φωνή Λογικής(ΦΛ)
N/A Patriots.eu
1 / 21
Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary Fidesz – Hungarian Civic Alliance
Fidesz – Magyar Polgári Szövetség
Non-Inscrits Patriots.eu
10 / 21
Christian Democratic People's Party
Kereszténydemokrata Néppárt (KDNP)
European People's Party Group [b] None
1 / 21
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy League
Lega
Identity and Democracy Patriots.eu
8 / 76
Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia Latvia First
Latvija pirmajā vietā(LPV)
N/A ECPM
1 / 9
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands Party for Freedom
Partij voor de Vrijheid (PVV)
Identity and Democracy [c] Patriots.eu
6 / 31
Flag of Poland.svg  Poland National Movement [d]
Ruch Narodowy (RN)
Non-Inscrits Patriots.eu
2 / 53
Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal Enough!
Chega!
N/A [e] Patriots.eu
2 / 21
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain Vox
Vox
European Conservatives and Reformists [f] Patriots.eu
6 / 61
Flag of Europe.svg  European Union Total
86 / 720

Organization

President

PresidentTook officeLeft officeStateParty
Jordan Bardella Jordan Bardella - Strasbourg European Parliament September 2022 (Cropped).jpg 8 July 2024presentFlag of France.svg  France Logo Rassemblement National.svg
National Rally

Bureau

2024–present

Group bureau during the 10th European Parliament. [54]

PositionNameStateNational partyEuropean party
President Jordan Bardella Flag of France.svg  France National Rally Patriots.eu
First Vice-President Kinga Gál Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary Fidesz Patriots.eu
Vice-President Roberto Vannacci Flag of Italy.svg  Italy League Patriots.eu
Vice-President Klára Dostálová Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic ANO 2011 Patriots.eu
Vice-President Sebastiaan Stöteler Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands Party for Freedom Patriots.eu
Vice-President António Tânger Corrêa Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal Chega Patriots.eu
Vice-President Hermann Tertsch Flag of Spain.svg  Spain Vox Patriots.eu
Vice-President Harald Vilimsky Flag of Austria.svg  Austria Freedom Party of Austria Patriots.eu
Chief Whip Anders Vistisen Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark Danish People's Party None
Treasurer Gerolf Annemans Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium Vlaams Belang Patriots.eu

See also

Notes

  1. ANO announced its departure from ALDE and Renew Europe on 21 June 2024, with leader Andrej Babiš declaring that ANO would not be able to fulfill its program as part of those groups. ANO considered joining other EU political groups after its departure, before successfully negotiating the creation of the Patriots for Europe alliance with Fidesz and the FPÖ.
  2. KDNP left the EPP party and the EPP group, after the EPP group decided to admit the TISZA party. After the creation of the Patriots for Europe alliance, KDNP decided to join.
  3. Their MEP left PVV and eventually the ID group.
  4. Part of the Confederation alliance. Its other members did not join.
  5. The party contested the 2019 European Parliament election as a member of ID, but failed to win any seats. After the 2024 election, the party gained representation, but decided to join PfE instead of sitting with the collapsing ID.
  6. Vox left the ECR Group on 5 July.

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