Giacomo Filibeck, secretary of the Party of European Socialists, tells ‘Euronews’ that Von der Leyen’s “ambiguity” about the far right is “unacceptable.”
The general secretary of the European Socialist Party (PES), James Filibeckhas stated that his political family “will not sit at the table” with the European People’s Party (EPP) if it allows far-right forces to determine the priorities of the next legislature.
Days after the EPP became the most voted party in the European elections, paving the way for its main candidate, Ursula von der Leyenhas a first chance to secure a second term at the head of the Commission, Filibeck said that will not be able to count on the support of the center left if it continues to open to the forces of the radical right.
Von der Leyen needs support to get re-election
Von der Leyen she has to be nominated by the 27 leaders of the bloc and secure the support of an absolute majority of 361 newly elected MEPs to achieve a second term; the parliamentary group of the Socialists and Democrats could offer up to 135 votes.
“If in the negotiations we see that the Group of European Conservatives and Reformists or Identity and Democracy play a role in setting priorities for the next five years, then it will be us, the Socialists and Democrats and the progressives, who we will not sit at the table“, said.
“If, however, we open ourselves to the support and contribution of the Green parties, they are more than welcome,” Filibeck added.
Two parliamentary groups unacceptable to the Socialists
The two most radical right-wing groups in the European Parliament – the European Conservatives and Reformists and Identity and Democracy – made some progress in last week’s European elections, but centrist pro-European parties retained their majoritydespite warnings of a far-right rise.
Although the first signs of European People’s Party (EPP) suggest that they want to stay loyal to their traditional partnershave also refused to rule out the possibility of working with certain far-right forces, on a case-by-case basis.
Filibeck suggested that his party will seek guarantees that the EPP will not form majorities with far-right forces in the next legislature before offering their votes to restore Von der Leyen to the position of President of the Commission.
“There cannot be an institutional majority to elect the president of the Commission, and then an a la carte political majority on the different policies to create an alternative parallel program,” he said. “Once we agree that we are together to support the next mandate of the next Commission, it also means that we agree on clear priorities.”
For decades, the European Parliament has been able to pass legislation because the three major parties in the center have agreed to work together in the so-called Grand Coalition, in which the Greens also shored up the grand coalition during the last mandate.
But in recent years deep disagreements have begun to emerge between the EPP and its traditional partners. by trying to dilute key environmental files, above all a bill to restore 20% of the EU’s land and seas by 20230, part of the historicGreen Pact European Union that Von der Leyen herself had defended.
On the eve of last week’s vote, Von der Leyen expressed her willingness to collaborate with some deputies from the far-right European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) party, whom she considers pro-europeans, proukrainians and favorable to the rule of law.
Is the “cordon sanitaire” over?
Sources from the EPP group affirm that deputies of the Brothers of Italy, of the Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloniand the Civic Democratic Party, of the Czech Prime Minister Petr Fialaare considered potential partners for the next five years.
But this has sparked fear among centrist and left-wing forces that Von der Leyen is slowly dismantling the so-called cordon sanitaire that has kept far-right forces in the EU at bay.
“What is not acceptable to us is the ambiguity with which the EPP has been playing during the course of the campaign, and to a certain extent also Mrs Von der Leyen in the public debates (…) when she hinted that it is a possibility to open this coalition to other forces”, explained Filibeck .
The parties belonging to the EPP group have already entered the government or have signed agreements with the extreme right in Italiathe Czech Republic, Sweden and, more recently, in the Netherlands. On Tuesday, the president of the French party member of the EPP sparked many internal disagreements when he also indicated his willingness to enter into a alliance with the extreme right French ahead of this month’s French legislative elections.
The socialists aspire to preside over the European Council
While EU leaders compete for top positions in Brussels, European socialists aspire to the presidency of the European Council, which brings together the 27 Heads of State and Government. The German Chancellor Olaf Scholzand the president of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sanchezwill represent their party in the negotiations.
Traditionally, the Council Presidency has gone to a former EU Head of State with experience in complex negotiations.
ADVERTISINGWhen asked if the former Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa – who was forced to resign last November amid a wide-ranging corruption investigation involving his chief of staff – was the Socialists’ preferred candidate, Filibeck responded: “We have many former prime ministers and current prime ministers who They have all the ballots to carry out (…) the task of president of the European Council and Antonio Costa is undoubtedly one of them“.
He declined to confirm whether the Danish prime minister, Mette Frederiksencould be another possible chosen one.
“As I said, we have present and past prime ministers who all have the right to play that role in the interests of the entire European Union,” he said.
The Portuguese Prime Minister, Luis Montenegro, has already supported the possible candidacy of his predecessor, Costato the presidency of the European Council.
Shortly after his center-right Democratic Alliance coalition narrowly beat the socialist opposition in the European elections, Montenegro declared: “It is possible that the presidency of the European Union will be in the hands of Costa. It is possible that the presidency of the European Council is destined for a socialist. If Dr. António Costa is a candidate for that position, the Democratic Alliance and the Government of Portugal will not only support, but will do. everything possible to ensure that this candidacy is successful“.
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