European Parliament - New European right-wing alliance initially without AfD
A connection of the AfD to a planned new alliance of Fidesz from Hungary, the FPO from Austria, and ANO from the Czech Republic in the European Parliament is currently not on the agenda. However, even if the AfD cannot join a common faction with Fidesz at that time, it opens up new opportunities for cooperation with other parties for the AfD, said Daniel Tapp, spokesperson for AfD co-leader Alice Weidel, to the German Press Agency in Berlin.
So far, right-populist parties have gathered in the European Parliament in the two factions ECR (European Conservatives and Reformers) and ID (Identity and Democracy). This party landscape is overall in motion, said Tapp. Therefore, there are free delegations on the market.
Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban, FPO leader Herbert Kickl, and ANO chairman Andrej Babis announced the founding of a common faction on Sunday. This alliance under the name "Patriots for Europe" is open to further parties. With the hoped-for influx, the grouping would rise to the "largest faction of right-wing forces in Europe," said Orban. The three parties together have a total of 24 representatives in this EU institution. For the formation of a faction, at least 23 deputies from 7 countries are required.
The AfD sees a content affinity with the new alliance
"The AfD would fit perfectly into this grouping," it is said in circles of the AfD federal executive. Fidesz and FPO stand ideologically close to the AfD. AfD co-chair Tino Chrupalla took a selfie with Orban in the stadium during the opening match of the European Football Championship in Munich and posted it on his Instagram channel. Why then no cooperation? In the AfD leadership, the theory is circulating that the German government could prevent this from happening by pressuring Orban, who is also the Hungarian prime minister. There is talk of "pressure potential." This runs behind the scenes, is not provable, but not a conspiracy theory, it is said.
The AfD was elected with 15 representatives to the EU Parliament. Now it is looking for right-wing partner parties. The right-populist ID had announced cooperation with German representatives before the election, after their spokesman Maximilian Krah made controversial statements about the Nazi SS in an interview with an Italian newspaper.
- Despite the AfD not currently planning to join Fidesz's proposed alliance with FPO and ANO in the European Parliament, spokesperson Daniel Tapp sees new cooperative opportunities for the AfD.
- The AfD shares a content affinity with the new alliance, as they share ideological ground with Fidesz and FPO.
- The establishment of the "Patriots for Europe" alliance, announced by Hungary's Viktor Orban, FPO's Herbert Kickl, and ANO's Andrej Babis, aims to become the largest faction of right-wing forces in Europe, with a total of 24 representatives from the three parties.
- For the formation of a faction in the European Parliament, at least 23 deputies from 7 countries are required.
- German Press Agency reported that the AfD sees a potential fit within this grouping and has a theory circulating in their leadership that the German government could be pressuring Hungary's Prime Minister Orban to prevent any cooperation.
- In the aftermath of the EU Parliament elections, the AfD was elected with 15 representatives and is now looking for right-wing partner parties for potential alliances.
- The right-populist ID had previously announced cooperation with German representatives before the elections, following controversial statements made by their spokesman Maximilian Krah about the Nazi SS.
- The right-populist parties have historically gathered in the European Parliament in the ECR (European Conservatives and Reformers) and ID (Identity and Democracy) factions, with these party landscapes being in motion and having free delegations available on the market.
- Austria's FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl and Czech Republic's ANO chairman Andrej Babis, along with Viktor Orban, aim to create an influential right-wing alignment within the EU institutions through the "Patriots for Europe" alliance.
