The far-right is dreaming of a supergroup. Europe isn't ready; neither are they

Friday, May 24, 2024

European elections see a push by the Socialist Party to defeat the far-right, analyzing ECR and ID groups’ dynamics.

đź”— Read the article on elconfidencial.com


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

The Socialist Party has launched its European elections campaign with the goal of defeating the far-right. The term “far-right” is broadly defined and encompasses various groups, from euro-skeptics to post-fascists, ultraconservatives to identity nationalists, and atlantists to pro-Russian factions, often divided between the ECR (Conservatives and Reformists Europe) and ID (Democracy and Identity) groups. Some leaders advocate for a “supergroup” of far-right parties. Recent surveys suggest this hypothetical bloc could be a major force in the European Parliament after June 9th elections.

The main differences between the ECR and ID groups are more about their parliamentary placement than their core ideas, though they share opposition to certain EU policies like migration and environmentalism, and a desire for national sovereignty. The ECR is generally atlantist and open to free trade, while the ID group tends to be more protectionist and has historically shown pro-Russian leanings.

The European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has shown openness to pact negotiations with parts of the ECR, proposing alliances based on support for Ukraine and the rule of law, which would exclude parties like PiS. The normalization of relations depends heavily on the PPE, with liberals being more flexible than socialists. Prime Minister Meloni is noted as a key normalizer within the ECR by positioning herself as a mainstream European leader.

Despite common ground, major obstacles remain for a unified far-right bloc, primarily internal competition between parties (e.g., Le Pen and Zemmour in France) and differing stances on Russia. While some leaders like Viktor Orbán could act as a bridge, his rhetoric also stirs tensions with nationalist movements like AUR in Romania. Furthermore, recent events, such as scandals involving AfD or public backlash against far-right rhetoric, are affecting their polling trends.


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