Right-wing political groups in Brussels have remained tight-lipped as France’s Marine Le Pen of the National Rally (RN) party continues her push for a new European Parliament supergroup.
The RN firebrand is courting Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni for the creation of the new European parliamentary faction, which she hopes will overtake the left-wing Socialists & Democrats (S&D) to become the EP’s second-largest political group.
Other right-wingers within the “Brussels bubble” have stayed quiet about the project, with party officials from across the bloc refusing to comment ahead of June’s European Parliament elections.
One anonymous insider cited future group-formation negotiations as the reason their party was not speaking on the issue, a sentiment shared by others working within the Parliament.
Le Pen’s plan, nevertheless, appears to be part of a larger trend of European Union politicians expressing interest in greater right-wing co-operation, even with certain groups that had, up to now, seemed marginalised even by their fellow Conservatives.
Speaking to Swedish media, prominent European Conservative & Reformists (ECR) MEP Charlie Weimers said he was interested in working with parties within the Identity and Democracy (ID) group on certain issues.
The two factions have found themselves at odds with one another over the war in Ukraine, with the ECR taking a staunchly pro-Kyiv stance on the conflict, while the ID has allowed for more variety in its outlook.
“In order to gather a majority for a secured border and strict migration policy in the EU, we must be constructive,” said Weimers – a major supporter of Ukraine.
“If it then means that we sit down and negotiate and discuss with parties with whom we do not agree on other important issues … yes, it is in the interest of our voters that we are constructive.”
Centrist and left-wing groups have expressed fury at Le Pen’s apparent plot, with the S&D publicly threatening to abandon European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen should she rely on any ECR or ID group member in her bid to retain her position as EC chief.
“It is clear to me that when the next Commission is formed, it must not rely on a majority that also requires the support of right-wing extremists,” said German Chancellor Olaf Scholz – whose German Social Democrats are a part of the S&D .
He added that it would be “a mistake for Europe’s future” if the EC President opted to accept support from anyone bar the EU’s “traditional parties”.
Marine Le Pen’s Rassemblement National (RN) has surged ahead in the French opinion polls ahead of the 2024 European Parliament elections. https://t.co/vPWMyWadNc
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) October 18, 2023
