"Spiegel": AfD intends to establish its European Parliamentary Group named "The Sovereignists"
Potential recruits for the upcoming faction could include Romania's SOS Rumanien, Spain's Se Acabo La Fiesta (Party's Over), Greece's NIHK (Democratic Patriotic Movement), Poland's Konfederacja Wolnosc i Niedpodleglosc (Liberty and Independence Confederation), Slovakia's Hnutie Republika (Republic-Movement), and Hungary's Hazank Mozgalom (Our Homeland Party), as per "Spiegel." Sarah Knafo, an associate and adviser to French Reconquête party leader Eric Zemmour, is also rumored to join.
The proposed faction's ideology could be based on the Sofia Declaration, a pro-Russian far-right statement issued by Bulgaria's Wiedergeburt (Resurrection) party in April 2024, as per "Spiegel." The declaration strongly opposes EU bureaucracy and considers the European civilization to be under attack from globalist ideologies. It highlights the rights of peoples to self-determination being replaced by bureaucratic rule instead. The declaration also calls for peace negotiations concerning the Russian aggression in Ukraine.
The AfD was ousted from ID (Identity and Democracy) due to minimizing comments made by their leading candidate, Maximilian Krah, and currently lacks a faction.
About two weeks ago, there was a notable surge in votes for right-wing parties in the European Parliament election. In Germany, the AfD secured 15.9% of the votes and finished in second place, while right-wing populist parties topped the polls in France, Italy, and Austria. The European People's Party (EVP), comprising CDU and CSU, continues to be the strongest force in the EU Parliament.
The second far-right faction in the EU Parliament, the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), aims to become the third strongest faction in the Parliament with new members from France joining. The Italian party led by Minister President Giorgia Meloni, Fratelli d'Italia (Brothers of Italy), is part of the ECR faction.
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The "Spiegel" article suggests that the AfD's new European Parliamentary Group, titled "The Sovereignists," may seek to recruit parties such as Romania's SOS Rumanien, Spain's Se Acabo La Fiesta (Party's Over), Greece's NIHK (Democratic Patriotic Movement), and Poland's Konfederacja Wolnosc i Niedpodleglosc (Liberty and Independence Confederation), among others. This potential alliance shares a strong opposition to EU bureaucracy and a belief in the threat of globalist ideologies to European civilization, as outlined in the Sofia Declaration. The AfD, currently unable to maintain their presence in the Identity and Democracy Group, aims to rebuild their influence in the European Parliament with the support of these sovereignist parties. Moreover, the surge in votes for right-wing parties in recent European Parliament elections signifies a growing sentiment for these views across Europe. In addition, the European Conservatives and Reformists aim to strengthen their position in the European Parliament, attracting new members from France and led by Minister President Giorgia Meloni's Fratelli d'Italia (Brothers of Italy). The proposed policies and shifts in alliance suggest a highly contested European Parliament landscape, with lasting implications for the political dynamic of member states like Spain, Slovakia, Greece, Poland, and even France and Italy.
