Patriots for Europe

Group in the European Parliament

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

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]

10th European Parliament (2024–present)

On 8 July, Jordan Bardella, president of the French National Rally (RN), was named as the group's president.^[38][39][40]

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.

Potential members

Speculative members

Parties being speculated as possible members of the new EU Group include:^[44][45][46]

• Poland: Confederation's National Movement (RN), which won two MEPs, has stated it is currently 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.^[47][48][49]
• Slovenia: The Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS), which won four MEPs (currently part of the EPP Group)^[50]

Previously speculated members

• Germany: Alternative for Germany (AfD), which has 15 MEPs (formerly part of the ID Group). However, due to previous tension between Fidesz and AfD, this was seen as unlikely,^[51] with the AfD stating it had no current plans to join.^[52] AfD expressed interest in creating a group including Hungarian Fidesz rival Our Homeland Movement and the Bulgarian Revival. These parties eventually established a separate far-right grouping, Europe of Sovereign Nations.^[53]
• Poland: Law and Justice (PiS), which won 20 MEPs, initially negotiated with the Patriots for Europe, but later reached an agreement with Brothers of Italy allowing it to remain in the European Conservatives and Reformists.^[54]
• Slovakia: Republic Movement, with two MEPs, expressed interest in membership,^[55] but one MEP subsequently joined Europe of Sovereign Nations on 10 July.^[56]
• Slovakia: Smer–SD was speculated to join the alliance with its five MEPs; however, according to its junior coalition partner, Hlas–SD, Smer–SD expressed a preference for rejoining the S&D group.^[57] Although it was later rejected from S&D,^[58] Smer–SD declined to join Patriots for Europe, saying that it can not join the group that "has nothing to do with social democracy".^[59][60]

Organization

President

Bureau

2024–present

Group bureau during the 10th European Parliament.^[39]

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. 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.
5. Vox left the ECR Group on 5 July.
6. Vox left the ECR Party on 5 July.

See also

• Europe of Sovereign Nations

References

1. Messad, Paul (7 July 2024). "French far-right RN set to join Orbán's 'Patriots for Europe'". Euractiv. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
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. "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.
10. Piotr Maciej Kaczynski (9 July 2024). "PATRIOT GAMES: VIKTOR ORBAN GOES ON THE OFFENSIVE". Balkan Insight.
11. ^[8][9][10]
12. "France's RN to Lead New Right-Wing Group at EU Parliament – Reuters – 07/8/2024". Reuters. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
13. "Orbán's new right-wing group hits EU parliament threshold – Euractive – 07/8/2024". Euractive. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
14. ^[12][13]
15. "Hungary: Orban announces new far-right European alliance – DW – 06/30/2024". Deutsche Welle. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
16. "Portugal's far right joins Viktor Orbán's 'Patriots for Europe' alliance". 1 July 2024.
17. "Le Pen's National Rally to take control of far-right Patriots in EU Parliament". Politico. 8 July 2024. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
18. ^[15][16][17]
19. "Orban's new Patriots for Europe group is targeting the council, not the parliament". euobserver. 1 July 2024. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
20. "'Patriots for Europe': Hungary's Orban announces new EU Parliament alliance". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
21. "Hungary: Orban announces new far-right European alliance – DW – 06/30/2024". Deutsche Welle. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
22. "Patrioti pro Evropu. ANO, Fidesz a FPÖ zakládají novou politickou alianci". Deník (in Czech). Czech News Agency. 30 June 2024. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
23. "Vlastenci pro Evropu. ANO, Fidesz a Svobodná strana Rakouska zakládají politickou alianci". iROZHLAS (in Czech). 30 June 2024. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
24. "„Patriotisches Manifest – Erklärung mit Herbert Kickl, Viktor Orbán, Andrej Babiš & Harald Vilimsky"". Freedom Party of Austria. Vienna. 30 June 2024. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
25. "„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.
26. Andrej Babiš (30 June 2024). "VLASTENECKÝ MANIFEST PRO EVROPSKOU BUDOUCNOST"". Facebook (in Czech). Vienna. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
27. "Babiš, Orbán a Kickl zakládají vlasteneckou alianci". Novinky.cz (in Czech). Borgis. 30 June 2024. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
28. "Extrema-direita portuguesa junta-se à aliança "Patriotas pela Europa" de Viktor Orbán". euronews (in Portuguese). 1 July 2024. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
29. "Portugal's Chega party to join Orbán's new far-right alliance". POLITICO. 1 July 2024. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
30. "Vox leaves Meloni's ECR for Orban's new 'Patriots'". Ansa.it. 5 July 2024.
31. "x.com". Retrieved 7 July 2024.
32. "x.com". Retrieved 7 July 2024.
33. "x.com". Retrieved 7 July 2024.
34. "x.com". Retrieved 8 July 2024.
35. "x.com". Retrieved 8 July 2024.
36. Sajó, Dávid (6 July 2024). "A Dán Néppárt is csatlakozik Orbánék európai pártcsoportjához, megvan a szükséges létszám a frakcióhoz". Telex. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
37. "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.
38. Fortuna, Gerardo (8 July 2024). "Far-right Patriots group springs to third force in European Parliament". Euronews. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
39. "Patriots for Europe become the third largest group in the European Parliament". Agenparl. 8 July 2024. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
40. "Patriots for Europe becomes EU parliament's 3rd-largest group, picks Jordan Bardella as president". Politico Europe. 8 July 2024. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
41. "MEPs by Member State and political group". Retrieved 17 July 2024.
42. "MEP: Nikola BARTŮŠEK". European Union. 16 July 2024. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
43. "MEP: Filip TUREK". European Union. 16 July 2024. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
44. Scheffer, Joakim (1 July 2024). "The EP's Potentially Strongest Right-Wing Group — Who Could Join PM Orbán's Patriots for Europe?". Hungarian Conservative. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
45. "Portugal's far right joins Orbán's 'Patriots for Europe' alliance". Euronews. 1 July 2024. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
46. Zachová, Aneta (30 June 2024). "Orbán, Babiš, Kickl create new "patriotic" alliance to redefine EU policies, eye new Parliament group". Euractiv. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
47. ADAMCZYK, GRZEGORZ (3 July 2024). "Confederation MEP rules out alliance with Germany's AfD, eyes other European groups". Remix.
48. "Konfederacja podzielona w europarlamencie? Źródło: troje z AfD, dwoje z Orbanem, a z Braunem nikt nie rozmawia". TV24. 9 July 2024.
49. "Polish Konfederacja split between Patriots and Sovereigntists in European Parliament". Brussels Signal. 10 July 2024.
50. 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.
51. Benakis, Theodoros (1 July 2024). "Far-right AfD eyes Orbán's new group in the European Parliament". European Interest. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
52. Stellmacher, John (1 July 2024). "New European right-wing alliance initially without AfD". aussiedlerbote.de. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
53. Starcevic, Seb; Wax, Eddy (10 July 2024). "New far-right group led by Germany's AfD founded in European Parliament". POLITICO. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
54. Genovese, Vincenzo (3 July 2024). "Poland's Law and Justice says no to Orbán's Patriots and stays with Meloni's group in EU Parliament". Yahoo News.
55. Zmušková, Barbara; Griera, Max (8 July 2024). "Orbán v europarlamente zabodoval. Patrioti pre Európu môžu mať reálnu moc". Euractiv (in Slovak).
56. Liboreiro, Jorge; Genovese, Vincenzo (10 July 2024). "AfD and allies form new far-right group in Brussels called Europe of Sovereign Nations". Euronews.
57. Scheffer, Joakim (1 July 2024). "The EP's Potentially Strongest Right-Wing Group — Who Could Join PM Orbán's Patriots for Europe". Hungarian Conservative. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
58. HARZER, FILIP (10 July 2024). "Europoslanci Směru dali vale socialistům, mluví se o námluvách s Patrioty". Seznam Zprávy (in Czech). Retrieved 10 July 2024.
59. Silenská, Natália (12 July 2024). "Fico's Smer will not join new Patriots for Europe group, cites ideological divide". Euractiv.
60. Ahmet Gencturk (12 July 2024). "Slovak premier hints his social democratic party won't join right-wing Patriots alliance in European Parliament". Anadolu Ajansı.

External links

Media related to Patriots for Europe at Wikimedia Commons