EU: The new faction led by Andrej Babiš will ultimately be just an extension of the old, populist group

Wednesday, Jul 10, 2024

A new, right-wing populist group in the European Parliament will be led by French far-right members.

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[This is an automatically generated summary, for reference only]

A new group, dubbed “Visegrád or Austro-Hungarian,” is not actually forming as a distinct entity but is instead an expansion of the existing far-right and nationalist-populist Identity and Democracy (ID) group led by French populists. This expanded group will have over eighty members and will be the third largest in the European Parliament, though it will not align with standard working groups. The Flemish nationalists hold a significant portion of the seats, while other major parties have eight to eleven members. Key figures like Andrej Babiš, Viktor Orbán, and Herbert Kickl were involved in its formation. Jordan Bardella has been elected chairman. The group includes substantial representation from the French National Rally, Fidesz, Italy’s League, and ANO, alongside smaller delegations from various parties. It also incorporates members from Czech groups Přísaha and Motorists, and Greek party Hlas rozumu. While the group opposes EU federalism, rapid migration, and seeks to revise the Green Deal, analysts note some members have sympathies for Putin’s Russia, leading to internal divisions, such as differing stances on supporting Ukraine. The group is unlikely to join major governing coalitions in the EU.


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