The Rise of the Patriotic Voices: Bardella Unites the Far-Right in European Parliament

Tuesday 09 July 2024 - 11:10

In a move poised to reshape the dynamics of the European Parliament, Jordan Bardella, leader of France's far-right National Rally (RN), has been appointed to spearhead a new right-wing grouping, Patriots for Europe. This development follows Mr. Bardella's party's strong performance in France's recent legislative elections, where they emerged as a significant force despite falling short of securing a governing majority.

In a defiant post-election speech on Sunday night, Mr. Bardella foreshadowed the creation of this "large group," pledging to influence the "balance of power in Europe" and challenge what he perceives as "excessive migration, punitive environmental policies, and encroachments on sovereignty." True to his word, he unveiled the Patriots for Europe alliance on Monday, hailing it as a beacon of "hope for tens of millions of European citizens who value their identity, sovereignty, and freedom."

This bold initiative finds its origins in a "patriotic manifesto" signed last month by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Herbert Kickl of Austria's far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ), and Andrej Babis, leader of the Czech populist ANO. Their rallying cry? To offer "peace, security, and development" in contrast to what they perceive as the "war, migration, and stagnation" fostered by the "Brussels elite."

Within a week, this call resonated across the continent, with right-wing and far-right parties from 12 European countries, including Portugal's Chega, Spain's Vox, Geert Wilders' Dutch PVV, the Danish Peoples Party, and Belgium's Vlaams Belang, pledging their support.

Monday morning brought further momentum to Patriots for Europe as RN and Italy's right-wing populist League party joined, bringing the group's total membership to a formidable 84 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs).

With 30 MEPs, Mr. Bardella's RN contingent becomes the largest within Patriots, solidifying their position as a formidable force in the European Parliament. The alliance now ranks as the third-largest, following only the centre-right European People's Party (EPP) and the centre-left Socialists & Democrats (S&D).

Notably absent from Patriots for Europe are Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's Brothers of Italy (FdI) party, aligned with the European Conservatives and Reformists alliance, and the German Alternative für Deutschland (AfD), currently politically adrift following scandals earlier this year.

Tom Van Grieken, chairman of Belgium's Vlaams Belang party, captured the unifying spirit of the Patriots alliance, asserting that "right-wing, patriotic, and nationalist parties" share more in common than what divides them.

However, differences persist, particularly regarding NATO and the EU's stance towards Ukraine, underscoring the complexities ahead for this diverse coalition of voices.

The recent European elections on June 9 saw gains for far-right and nationalist parties, though the centre-right also fared well, retaining its position as the largest group and increasing its seat count. The RN emerged as one of the night's success stories, securing over 30% of the vote—double that of French President Emmanuel Macron's centrist Renaissance party.

This triumph prompted Macron to call for snap parliamentary elections, where the RN led the first round on June 30, but was ultimately defeated in the July 7 runoff by a left-wing coalition and Macron's Ensemble alliance.

As Patriots for Europe takes center stage in European politics, the continent braces for a significant shift in power dynamics, with Mr. Bardella and allies committed to "reclaiming our institutions and redirecting policies to serve our nations and peoples." The battle lines are drawn, marking a formidable new chapter in Europe's struggle for identity and direction.