Orban and FPÖ leader Kickl forge far-right faction
In the European Parliament, a new Far-Right Coalition announces itself. The parties of Hungary's Prime Minister Orban and the Austrian FPO's chief, Kickl, form a coalition with a Czech movement to lead it. However, this is not enough for a faction. What about the AfD?
Viktor Orban, the Prime Minister of Hungary, and Herbert Kickl, the chief of the right-wing populist FPO in Austria, have announced the founding of a new Far-Right Faction in the European Parliament. The grouping "Patriots for Europe" ("Patriots for Europe") is expected to soon receive more members and become the "largest faction of right-wing forces in Europe," Orban declared in Vienna. "Then the sky is our limit."
"Today is a historic day because we are entering a new era of European politics with this day," Kickl declared at the hastily convened meeting. This new alliance aims to act as a "carrier rocket" for other European parties. Former Czech populist Prime Minister Andrej Babis was also present in Vienna, and his ANO party has also joined the alliance.
Orban's Fidesz party is currently without a faction in the EU Parliament. The FPO has belonged to the Fraktion Identität und Demokratie (ID) until now, which also houses the French right-wing populists of Marine Le Pen. The AfD was expelled from the ID Fraktion just before the European election due to allegedly downplaying remarks by their Spitzenkandidat Maximilian Krah about the SS. AfD Chair Alice Weidel had announced that she would seek new alliance partners in the European Parliament after the expulsion.
Further Support Needed
To found a new faction in the European Parliament, at least 23 EU MPs are required, representing at least one-quarter of the 27 member states. The new alliance therefore needs the support of at least four more countries to be recognized as a faction in the EU Parliament. Other Far-Right parties like the ultraconservative Fratelli d'Italia of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni are united in the European Conservative and Reformists (ECR) group in the EU Parliament.
At the beginning of June, right-wing populist parties made significant gains in many countries. On Monday, Hungary takes over the EU Council Presidency for half a year. Orban advocates an anti-immigration stance and is seen as an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Europe's billion-dollar military aid for Ukraine is rejected by him with resolve.
- Giorgia Meloni, the Italian Prime Minister, could potentially provide the necessary support to the "Patriots for Europe" faction, as her Far-Right party, Fratelli d'Italia, is already part of the European Conservative and Reformists (ECR) group.
- Andrei Babis, the former Czech Prime Minister and leader of ANO, has joined the "Patriots for Europe" alliance, which could potentially encourage other Central European countries to follow suit.
- Right-wing populist parties, including Marine Le Pen's French National Rally and Viktor Orban's Fidesz in Hungary, have been influential in shaping the political landscape of the EU Parliament.
- Alice Weidel, the chair of the German AfD, sought new alliance partners in the EU Parliament after her party was expelled from the ID Fraktion due to allegedly downplayingremarks about the SS.
- The new Far-Right coalition in the European Parliament, led by Hungary's Prime Minister Orban and Austria's FPO, aims to act as a "carrier rocket" for other European parties and become the "largest faction of right-wing forces in Europe."
