The new group, called Europe of Sovereign Nations, immediately becomes the most radical force on the right in the European Parliament.
A new far-right group has been formed in the European Parliament under the name “Europe of Sovereign Nations” (ESN), which brings together controversial parties that until today lacked political affiliation due to the radical nature of his ideas.
The training includes 25 MEPs from eight Member Statessufficient to establish a formal group in the chamber and avoid the category of non-registered, which greatly reduces the relevance and speaking time of legislators.
Its composition and name were announced on Wednesday afternoon following a constituent meeting in Brussels, ending days of mounting speculation. The news comes just two days after the appearance of Patriots for Europeby Viktor Orbán, and consolidates the reconfiguration of far-right forces after the June elections.
Despite their varied nature, ESN’s eight parties are united by a opposition to migration management, the Green Deal, social progressivism and military aid to Ukraine, which puts them on a collision course with the dominant current.
Furthermore, all of them challenge the European integration project, under which countries delegate part of their powers to supranational institutions to build a political and economic union. Hence the prominence of the term “sovereignty” in the title.
The Europe of Sovereign Nations is made up of:
- Alternative for Germany (AfD): 14 MEPs
- Polish Confederation: 3 MEPs
- Bulgarian revival: 3 MEPs
- Reconquest of France: 1 eurodiputado
- Slovak Republic: 1 MEP
- Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) of Czechia: 1 MEP
- Our Homeland Movement of Hungary: 1 MEP
- Union of the People and Justice of Lithuania: 1 MEP
Who is who in the new group?
The main voice of the group is AfD, which dominates more than half of the seats in Sovereign Nations Europe. One of its legislators, René Aust, has been named co-president. Confedeation’s Stanisław Tyszka is the other co-president.
“We have met because we share the goal of significantly influencing the political future of Europe through decisive action and strategic planning. This can only be achieved collectively, as European history shows. Those who have had the courage to organize and act strategically have always exerted influence,” said Aust.
“We choose this path not because it is easy, but because it is necessary to realize our shared vision of a Europe of the Homelands strong, united and with a vision of the future“The AfD, one of the best-known far-right parties in Europe, has been accused of promote ethnonationalist beliefs, spread Islamophobiaengage in historical revisionism and deny the existence of man-made climate change.
Earlier this year, the investigative journalism organization Correctiv revealed that AfD officials had participated in a meeting where “remigration” plans to expel asylum seekers, foreign residents and “undocumented” German citizens from the country were discussed. affiliates”. The report caused enormous outrage and sparked weeks of massive protests.
In May, a German court declared the AfD officially suspected of extremism, allowing intelligence services to monitor its activities and communications. That same month, The AfD was expelled from the Identity and Democracy group (ID), now dissolved, after its then leader, Maximillian Krah, declared to an Italian newspaper that not all those who wore an SS uniform were war criminals. On the other hand, the Krah offices were searched when his assistant was arrested accused of spying for the Chinese secret services.
The AfD’s unregistered status fueled weeks of speculation about a possible new group in Brussels, which was initially thought to be called The Soberanists. Other members are the Polish Confederation (or Konfederacja), an unconditionally coalition anti-LGBTQ, anti-feminist and anti-abortion. However, only three of the Confederation’s six MEPs have joined the new group.
MEP Anna Bryłka said she would stay out due to the group’s “attitude” towards the Nord Stream gas pipelines connecting Europe with Russia, which Poland is firmly opposed to. “At the same time, I declare my cooperation with all European forces that want to stop progressive federalization, mass and uncontrolled immigration and the European Green Deal,” Bryłka said on social media to explain his decision.
Europe of Sovereign Nations also includes Revival (Bulgaria), Our Homeland Movement (MHM) (Hungary), Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) (Czech Republic), Reconquête! (France) and Republika (Slovakia), all of them supporters of ultranationalism and ultraconservatism, and who embrace nativist and xenophobic themes. In some cases, such as Revival, Our Homeland Movement and Republika, the parties have associated themselves with the anti-vaccine movement. The friendly stance towards Russia is another recurring theme among ESN members.
As a whole, the group can easily be considered the most radical formation in the European Parliament and will be immediately placed under a cordon sanitaire by the dominant forces, depriving him of high-level positions in the institution. The controversial SOS Romania party, which appeared to be a suitable candidate, has been rejected due to concerns raised by some delegations, including the AfD and the Our Homeland Movement. Among other things, SOS Romania wants to redesign the map of Eastern Europe to re-establish “Greater Romania”, the interwar kingdom.
Another notable omission is that of The Party is Over (SALF), the self-proclaimed “anti-establishment” party led by social media firebrand Luis ‘Alvise’ Pérez. Despite similar rumors in the press, SALF did not join the far-right group.
