The announcement comes as Hungary takes over the rotating EU presidency on Monday, after months of deadlock and tensions with the Commission and its partners. The new alliance, called “Patriots for Europe” and enshrined in a “manifesto”, needs the support of parties from four other countries in order to be recognised as a fully-fledged group in the European Parliament.
Against “illegal immigration” and for “the traditional family”
Viktor Orban, whose Fidesz party finds itself among the non-registered since he left the European People’s Party (EPP, right) in 2021, hopes to voice a different vision, against military support for Ukraine, against “illegal immigration” and for “the traditional family”.
“A new era begins,” he proclaimed, promising that this faction, if it sees the light of day, “will change European politics.” “An era of freedom, sovereignty, peace, prosperity and values,” added Herbert Kickl who, after his party’s first place in the European vote on June 9, now hopes to delight the Austrian chancellery during the legislative elections scheduled for the end of September. “Today is a historic day,” he said.
His party was previously part of the Identity and Democracy (ID) group, which includes the French National Rally (RN) MPs, while Andrej Babis’ Ano party decided to leave Renew Europe, which includes liberals and centrists, including French President Emmanuel Macron’s Renaissance party. Fidesz has 11 MPs with its allies in the Christian Democratic Party KDNP, Ano has seven and the FPÖ has six members.
