AfD keeps cooperation in Orban's new far-right parliamentary group open
The European party landscape has "moved" in the spectrum, and for the AfD there are now "multiple options" on the market, the spokesperson continued. At the present moment, however, the AfD has not yet made a decision about its future caucus affiliation in the European Parliament.
In the last legislative period, the AfD was part of the right-wing ID-Faction in the EU-Parliament. However, it was excluded just before the European election in June - the ID justified this primarily due to radical statements from the AfD's candidate for the European election, Maximilian Krah.
AfD chairwoman Weidel said on Saturday before the delegates of the federal party conference in Essen that the ID-Faction had "put the chair in front of the door" for the AfD. The AfD therefore had to "consistently" break off completely with the ID and also leave the ID party; a corresponding resolution should be passed by the party conference on Sunday.
Weidel announced that the AfD would seek new partners on the European level - especially the good relationship with the Austrian FPO was highlighted.
The Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and the head of the right-populist FPO, Herbert Kickl, announced the founding of a new right-wing extremist faction in the European Parliament on Sunday. Orban and Kickl announced this at a joint press conference with the former Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis in Vienna and called on other European parties to join the new alliance named "Patriots for Europe".
The new alliance needs the support of parties from four further countries to be recognized as a faction in the EU-Parliament. In the European election in early June, right-populist parties made strong gains in many countries.
Orban's Fidesz party remained the strongest force in Hungary at the ballot box despite significant vote losses. In the EU-Parliament, it is currently without a caucus. The FPO belongs to the right-wing faction Identität und Demokratie (ID) at present.
- Alice Weidel, the AfD chairwoman, stated that the ID-Faction had effectively closed the door for the AfD.
- The AfD's future caucus affiliation in the EU Parliament remains undecided, with multiple options available.
- During the last legislative period, the AfD was part of the right-wing ID-Faction in the EU Parliament, but was later excluded.
- Weidel highlighted the good relationship with the Austrian FPO as a potential new partner for the AfD on the European level.
- On Sunday, Viktor Orban and Herbert Kickl announced the founding of a new right-wing extremist faction in the European Parliament, inviting other European parties to join.
- The new alliance, named "Patriots for Europe", needs the support of parties from four additional countries to be recognized as a faction in the EU Parliament.
- Maximilian Krah's radical statements led to the AfD's exclusion from the ID-Faction just before the European elections in June.
- The FPO, led by Herbert Kickl, currently belongs to the right-wing ID-Faction in the EU Parliament, but its future alignment remains uncertain in light of Orban's new alliance.
