Patriots for Europe

Last updated

Patriots for Europe
European Parliament group
Patriots for Europe logo.svg
English abbr.PfE
Patriots
Ideology
Political position Right-wing [18] to far-right [22]
European parties Patriots.eu
European Conservatives and Reformists Party
European Christian Political Movement
From8 July 2024;38 days ago (8 July 2024)
Preceded by Identity and Democracy
Chaired by Jordan Bardella
MEP(s)
84 / 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 almost all the former members of the Identity and Democracy group. The group could also coordinate the work of its members at the European Council and the Council of the European Union. [23]

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). [24]

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). [25] [26] [27] Representatives of the three founding parties signed "A Patriotic Manifesto for a European Future", [28] [29] [30] 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. [31]

The Hungarian Christian Democratic People's Party (KDNP), which has 1 MEP, also announced its intention to join the alliance following its exit from the EPP Group. On 1 July, the nationalist Portuguese party Chega, with two MEPs, became the fourth member of the Patriots for Europe. [32] [33] On 5 July, the Spanish Vox party also joined, leaving the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group. [34] The same day, the Dutch Party for Freedom (PVV), formerly part of the ID Group, also announced it would join. [35] 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. [36] [37] On 8 July, the National Rally (RN) and Lega were announced as new members of the group. [38] [39] 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. [40] 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". [14]

10th European Parliament (2024–present)

On 8 July, Jordan Bardella, president of the French National Rally (RN), was named as the group's president. [41] [42] [43]

MEPs

10th European Parliament

Patriots for Europe has MEPs in 12 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 12 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 [44]
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 Vlaams Belang
Vlaams Belang(VB)		 Identity and Democracy Patriots.eu
3 / 22
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic ANO
ANO 2011(ANO)		 Renew Europe [lower-alpha 1] None
7 / 21
Přísaha Civic Movement [45]
Přísaha občanské hnutí (Přísaha)		N/ANone
1 / 21
Motorists for Themselves [46]
Motoristé sobě (AUTO)		N/ANone
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/ANone
1 / 21
Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary Fidesz – Hungarian Civic Alliance
Fidesz – Magyar Polgári Szövetség		 Non-Inscrits None
10 / 21
Christian Democratic People's Party
Kereszténydemokrata Néppárt (KDNP)		 European People's Party Group [lower-alpha 2] 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 [lower-alpha 3] Patriots.eu
6 / 31
Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal Enough!
Chega!		N/A [lower-alpha 4] Patriots.eu
2 / 21
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain Vox
Vox		 European Conservatives and Reformists ECR Party [47]
6 / 61
Flag of Europe.svg  European Union Total
84 / 720

Potential members

Speculative members

Parties being speculated as possible members of the new EU Group include: [48] [49] [50]

Previously speculated members

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. [42]

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 None
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 None
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 ECR Party
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

Notes

  1. ↑ ANO 2011 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. ↑ 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.

See also

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References

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  2. ↑ Malingre, Virginie (5 July 2024). "Dutch, In the European Parliament, a possible joint group with Marine Le Pen and Viktor Orban". Le Monde. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  3. 1 2 "Hungarian, Fidesz Joins New Sovereigntist EP Group, Who else Will Follow". Hungary Today. 7 July 2024. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  4. ↑ Abascal, Santiago (5 July 2024). "The abandonment of the ECR by Vox, its entry into the group of 'Patriots for Europe' and its reasons". Counting Stars. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  5. ↑ [1] [2] [3] [4]
  6. ↑ Mathiesen, Karl (6 July 2024). "Dutch, Spanish far-right parties to join Orbán's Patriots for Europe". Politico. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  7. ↑ Albanese, Chiara; Adghirni, Samy (2 July 2024). "Le Pen May Ditch Her EU Parliament Group in Far-Right Shakeup". Bloomberg.
  8. ↑ Jennifer Rankin (8 July 2024). "Le Pen and Orbán join forces in European parliament far-right alliance". The Guardian.
  9. ↑ Sébastian Seibt (9 July 2024). "Le Pen, Orban and the 'Patriots for Europe': Is the EU being undermined from within?". France 24.
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  11. ↑ [8] [9] [10]
  12. ↑ Dr Helena Ivanov and Professor Marlene Laruelle (10 July 2024). "Why Still Pro-Russia? Making Sense of Hungary's and Serbia's Pro-Russia Stance". Henry Jackson Society.
  13. ↑ Hand Rauscher (10 July 2024). "Die FPÖ und die Russen". Der Standard.
  14. 1 2 "Le RN va rejoindre une nouvelle alliance au Parlement européen dirigée par le premier ministre hongrois, Viktor Orban". Le Monde (in French). 8 July 2024. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
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  16. ↑ "France's RN to Lead New Right-Wing Group at EU Parliament – Reuters – 07/8/2024". Reuters. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
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  18. ↑ [16] [17]
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  22. ↑ [19] [20] [21]
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  25. ↑ "Hungary: Orban announces new far-right European alliance – DW – 06/30/2024". Deutsche Welle . Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  26. ↑ "Patrioti pro Evropu. ANO, Fidesz a FPÖ zakládají novou politickou alianci". Deník (in Czech). Czech News Agency. 30 June 2024. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  27. ↑ "Vlastenci pro Evropu. ANO, Fidesz a Svobodná strana Rakouska zakládají politickou alianci". iROZHLAS (in Czech). 30 June 2024. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  28. ↑ "„Patriotisches Manifest – Erklärung mit Herbert Kickl, Viktor Orbán, Andrej Babiš & Harald Vilimsky"". Freedom Party of Austria . Vienna. 30 June 2024. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  29. ↑ "„Patrioten für Europa": Kickl (FPÖ), Orbán (Fidesz), Babiš (ANO) gaben Startschuss für neue patriotische Allianz!". Freedom Party of Austria . Vienna. 30 June 2024. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  30. ↑ Andrej Babiš (30 June 2024). "VLASTENECKÝ MANIFEST PRO EVROPSKOU BUDOUCNOST"". Facebook (in Czech). Vienna. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  31. ↑ "Babiš, Orbán a Kickl zakládají vlasteneckou alianci". Novinky.cz (in Czech). Borgis. 30 June 2024. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  32. ↑ "Extrema-direita portuguesa junta-se à aliança "Patriotas pela Europa" de Viktor Orbán". euronews (in Portuguese). 1 July 2024. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  33. ↑ "Portugal's Chega party to join Orbán's new far-right alliance". POLITICO. 1 July 2024. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  34. ↑ "Vox leaves Meloni's ECR for Orban's new 'Patriots'". Ansa.it. 5 July 2024.
  35. ↑ "x.com" . Retrieved 7 July 2024.
  36. ↑ "x.com" . Retrieved 7 July 2024.
  37. ↑ "x.com" . Retrieved 7 July 2024.
  38. ↑ "x.com" . Retrieved 8 July 2024.
  39. ↑ "x.com" . Retrieved 8 July 2024.
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  41. ↑ Fortuna, Gerardo (8 July 2024). "Far-right Patriots group springs to third force in European Parliament". Euronews. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
  42. 1 2 "Patriots for Europe become the third largest group in the European Parliament". Agenparl. 8 July 2024. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
  43. ↑ "Patriots for Europe becomes EU parliament's 3rd-largest group, picks Jordan Bardella as president". Politico Europe. 8 July 2024. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
  44. ↑ "MEPs by Member State and political group" . Retrieved 17 July 2024.
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  46. ↑ "MEP: Filip TUREK". European Union . 16 July 2024. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  47. ↑ "EU Member Parties". ECR Party. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
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  49. ↑ "Portugal's far right joins Orbán's 'Patriots for Europe' alliance". Euronews. 1 July 2024. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
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  52. ↑ "Konfederacja podzielona w europarlamencie? Źródło: troje z AfD, dwoje z Orbanem, a z Braunem nikt nie rozmawia". TV24. 9 July 2024.
  53. ↑ "Polish Konfederacja split between Patriots and Sovereigntists in European Parliament". Brussels Signal. 10 July 2024.
  54. ↑ Dlhopolec, Peter; Eisenchteter, Jules; Ciobanu, Claudia; Watson, Nicholas (5 July 2024). "Democracy Digest: Hungary Centre Stage as EU Presidency Begins and PM Visits Kyiv". Balkan Insight. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
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  62. ↑ HARZER, FILIP (10 July 2024). "Europoslanci Směru dali vale socialistům, mluví se o námluvách s Patrioty". Seznam Zprávy (in Czech). Retrieved 10 July 2024.
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