Brussels (Brussels Morning) – Dutch far-right leader Geert Wilders announced his party’s alliance with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s newly formed European parliamentary group, Patriots for Europe.
Will the Geert Wilders’ Party Strengthen the Far-Right Alliance?
Dutch far-right leader Geert Wilders declared that his party would join a European parliamentary alliance recently created by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
“We are PVV patriots, we love our country. Strong and sovereign. We oppose illegal immigration. We defend peace and freedom. And support Ukraine. We protect our Jewish-Christian heritage. And our families,” wrote PVV leader Geert Wilders on X.
“We want to join forces in the EP and proudly join Patriots For Europe!”
Wilders’ party succeeded in the Dutch general election last November. The PVV is the largest party in the latest four-party right-wing coalition sworn in. Dick Schoof, ex-head of the Dutch intelligence service, leads the party as prime minister. In the European Parliament elections in June, the PVV succeeded in six seats.
Can the Far-Right Alliance Become Parliament’s Third Largest?
Austria’s far-right leader, Herbert Kickl (FPÖ), Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán (Fidesz), and former Czech leader Andrej Babiš (ANO) announced a new political alliance called ‘Patriots for Europe’, on 30 June 2024. The new coalition, “Patriots for Europe,” needs backing from parties from at least four other nations to be recognised as a group in the EU parliament.
Since the European Elections in early June, the parliament’s parties have been scrambling to succeed over members of the European Parliament (MEPs) ahead of the upcoming mandate.
“Every day there will be some news, but our expectations are, that very quickly [Patriots for Europe] is going to be the third biggest party,” Balázs Orbán, close advisor to Viktor Orbán, said.
Spanish party VOX, presently part of ECR, already decided to quit Giorgia Meloni’s political family and join the new group, they announced, on Friday 5 July.
With this move, the latest group totals 29 MEPs from four member states, but is still missing two additional member states to form an official political party in the European Parliament.
Is Marine Le Pen Joining Patriots for Europe?
According to people close to the talks, the ID group of Marine Le Pen is anticipated to merge with the Patriots within the coming days. This would cause the combined total to as many as 86 MEPs, should all the members of the ID desire to join. If the merger goes forward, the new group would become the third biggest force in the parliament. It would put the Patriots forth of both ECR, now at 78 MEPs, and the liberal Renew Europe group, presently at 76 MEPs.
Will Other Nations Join Orban’s New Political Group?
“Le Pen, Orbán, and other delegations achieved a deal before last Sunday that ID would cease to exist to make the new one,” a well-informed MEP has revealed, pointing out that the package of high-level jobs among the different delegations, was decided as part of the deal. Following the French election results on Sunday evening, new outcomes are expected on Monday 8 July, before European parliamentary leaders assemble to negotiate and agree on the final leadership roles. Asked whether he hopes Le Pen to join the new grouping, Orbán stated: “It’s their decision and they will make the decision after [Sunday’s] election.”
