Patriots for Europe
| European Parliament group | |
 | |
| Ideology | [under discussion] |
|---|---|
| Political position | Right-wing[1] to far-right[2] |
| From | 30 June 2024 |
| MEP(s) | 39 / 720 |
Patriots for Europe is a right-wing and self-described sovereigntist[3] political alliance, seeking to form a political group in the European Parliament. The founding of the alliance was announced at a press conference in Vienna on 30 June 2024 by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán (Fidesz), former Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO 2011) and former Austrian Minister of the Interior Herbert Kickl as well as MEP Harald Vilimsky (FPÖ).[4][5][6]
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.[7]
History
Fidesz MEPs did not belong to any EU group until recently, having left the EPP faction in March 2021. ANO MEPs belonged to the liberal-centrist Renew Europe faction since 2011, but left it after the 2024 European Parliament elections after disagreements on the programme. The FPÖ belonged to the far-right ID Group in the ninth term (2019–2024).[8]
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 became the fourth member of the Patriots for Europe, with two MEPs.[9][10] On 5 July, the Spanish Vox also joined, leaving the ECR.[11] The same day, the Dutch Party for Freedom, formerly part of the ID Group, also announced it would join.[12]
Founding manifesto and ideology
Representatives of the three founding parties signed "A Patriotic Manifesto for a European Future."[13][14][15] According to the manifesto, the only valid European politics is that whose legitimacy is rooted in the existence of European nations and that preserves and celebrates European identity, traditions and customs, and continues their Greco-Roman and Judeo-Christian heritage. That sets out the alliance's ideology, which include greater sovereignty for EU member states, the fight against illegal migration and a revision of the Green Deal for Europe.[3]
Expressed interest in joining
Matteo Salvini's Lega, which won 8 MEPs in the 2024 European elections, has also expressed interest in joining.[16] The French National Rally, which won 30 MEPs (currently part of the ID Group), has been described as in advanced talks to join the group.[17] Polish Confederation, which won 6 MEPs, has stated it is currently in negotiations with Patriots for Europe.[18]
Other parties being speculated as possible members of the new EU Group are:[19][20][21]
- Slovenian Democratic Party, which has won 4 MEPs (currently part of the EPP Group)
- Belgian Vlaams Belang, which has won 3 MEPs (currently part of the ID Group)
- Alternative for Germany, which has won 15 MEPs (previously part of the ID Group, but are now Non-Inscrits), however, due to previous tension between Fidesz and AfD, membership into the group is seen as unlikely,[22] with the AfD stating it had no current plans to join.[23]
Slovak Smer–SD is also speculated to potentially join this alliance with 5 MEPs, however, according to its junior coalition partner, Hlas–SD, Smer-SD expressed a preference to rejoin the S&D group.[24]
Members
| State | National party | European party | Former political group | MEPs | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Austria
|
Freedom Party of Austria Freiheitliche Partei Österreichs (FPÖ) |
ID Party | Identity and Democracy | 6 / 19
| |
 Czech Republic
|
Action of Dissatisfied Citizens Akce nespokojených občanů (ANO) |
None | Renew Europe | 7 / 21
| |
 Denmark
|
Danish People's Party Dansk Folkeparti (DF) |
None | Identity and Democracy | 1 / 14
| |
 Hungary
|
Fidesz – Hungarian Civic Alliance Fidesz – Magyar Polgári Szövetség |
None | Non-Inscrits | 10 / 21
| |
| Christian Democratic People's Party Kereszténydemokrata Néppárt (KDNP) |
None | European People's Party | 1 / 21
| ||
 Netherlands
|
Party for Freedom Partij voor de Vrijheid (PVV) |
ID Party | Identity and Democracy | 6 / 31
| |
 Portugal
|
Enough! Chega! |
ID Party | Identity and Democracy | 2 / 21
| |
 Spain
|
Vox Vox |
ECR Party | European Conservatives and Reformists | 6 / 61
| |
 European Union
|
Total | 39 / 720
| |||
References
- ^ "Hungary: Orban announces new far-right European alliance – DW – 06/30/2024". dw.com. Retrieved 2024-07-02.
- ^ "Portugal's far right joins Viktor Orbán's 'Patriots for Europe' alliance". 2024-07-01.
- ^ a b "Babiš, Orbán a Kickl zakládají vlasteneckou alianci – Novinky". www.novinky.cz (in Czech). 2024-06-30. Retrieved 2024-07-01.
- ^ "Hungary: Orban announces new far-right European alliance – DW – 06/30/2024". dw.com. Retrieved 2024-07-01.
- ^ ČTK (2024-06-30). "Patrioti pro Evropu. ANO, Fidesz a FPÖ zakládají novou politickou alianci". Deník.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 2024-07-01.
- ^ "Vlastenci pro Evropu. ANO, Fidesz a Svobodná strana Rakouska zakládají politickou alianci". iROZHLAS (in Czech). 2024-06-30. Retrieved 2024-07-01.
- ^ "Babiš se spojil s Orbánem, společně s Rakušany založili novou evropskou frakci". e15.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 2024-07-01.
- ^ "'Patriots for Europe': Hungary's Orban announces new EU Parliament alliance". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-07-01.
- ^ "Extrema-direita portuguesa junta-se à aliança "Patriotas pela Europa" de Viktor Orbán". euronews (in Portuguese). 2024-07-01. Retrieved 2024-07-01.
- ^ "Portugal's Chega party to join Orbán's new far-right alliance". POLITICO. 2024-07-01. Retrieved 2024-07-01.
- ^ "Vox leaves Meloni's ECR for Orban's new 'Patriots' - TopNews - Ansa.it".
- ^ https://x.com/geertwilderspvv/status/1809269979457417639
- ^ "„Patriotisches Manifest – Erklärung mit Herbert Kickl, Viktor Orbán, Andrej Babiš & Harald Vilimsky", Freedom Party of Austria, Vienna, 30 June 2024. Retrieved on 1 August 2024.
- ^ "„Patrioten für Europa“: Kickl (FPÖ), Orbán (Fidesz), Babiš (ANO) gaben Startschuss für neue patriotische Allianz!", Freedom Party of Austria, Vienna, 30 June 2024. Retrieved on 1 August 2024.
- ^ "VLASTENECKÝ MANIFEST PRO EVROPSKOU BUDOUCNOST", Andrej Babiš, Vienna, 30 June 2024. Retrieved on 1 August 2024.
- ^ "Orban's alliance of 'patriots' seems way to go - Salvini - Politics - Ansa.it". Agenzia ANSA (in Italian). 2024-07-01. Retrieved 2024-07-05.
- ^ "Le Pen May Ditch Her EU Parliament Group in Far-Right Shakeup". Bloomberg. 2 July 2024.
Officials from Marine Le Pen's movement are in advanced talks with other far-right groups in the European Parliament that could see her party abandon its current political family to join forces with Hungary's Viktor Orban.
- ^ "Confederation MEP rules out alliance with Germany's AfD, eyes other European groups".
- ^ Scheffer, Joakim (2024-07-01). "The EP's Potentially Strongest Right-Wing Group — Who Could Join PM Orbán's Patriots for Europe? | Hungarian Conservative". www.hungarianconservative.com. Retrieved 2024-07-01.
- ^ "Portugal's far right joins Orbán's 'Patriots for Europe' alliance". euronews. 2024-07-01. Retrieved 2024-07-01.
- ^ Zachová, Aneta (2024-06-30). "Orbán, Babiš, Kickl create new "patriotic" alliance to redefine EU policies, eye new Parliament group". www.euractiv.com. Retrieved 2024-07-01.
- ^ Benakis, Theodoros (2024-07-01). "Far-right AfD eyes Orbán's new group in the European Parliament". European Interest. Retrieved 2024-07-05.
- ^ "New European right-wing alliance initially without AfD". aussiedlerbote.de. 2024-07-01. Retrieved 2024-07-05.
- ^ Scheffer, Joakim (2024-07-01). "The EP's Potentially Strongest Right-Wing Group — Who Could Join PM Orbán's Patriots for Europe". www.hungarianconservative.com. Retrieved 2024-07-02.
