The post-election negotiations in the European Parliament have the potential to lead to the emergence of two new right-wing groups, adding to the existing factions of the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) and the Identity and Democracy (ID). The ECR, which includes Giorgia Meloni’s Brothers of Italy, became the third biggest political force in the Parliament after the elections. However, the group’s constitutive meeting was delayed due to internal divisions, especially surrounding the future direction of the Polish Law and Justice party. On the other hand, the ID group has expressed openness to forming a hard-right ‘supergroup’ in order to increase political influence in Brussels.
With the possibility of several right-wing parties joining the European Parliament for the first time and others seeking new political alliances, a significant reshuffle of political groups is on the horizon. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), which was expelled from the ID group, is looking to form a new group called “The Sovereignists” along with other parties such as Poland’s Konfederacja, Spain’s The Party’s Over, and Romania’s SOS. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is also exploring the possibility of forming a group of nationalist, populist parties from Eastern Europe, which could include his Fidesz party, Slovakia’s Smer party, and the Czech ANO party.
The ongoing discussions within the right-wing factions are influenced by various factors, including divisions on the war in Ukraine and skepticism towards EU integration. While these parties may have differences on economic policies, they share a nationalist agenda and are considered populist in their political methods. The divisions within the right-wing parties regarding their stance on the European Commission presidency, specifically concerning Ursula von der Leyen, have also contributed to the uncertainty surrounding the future direction of these groups. Some parties within the ECR, such as Fratelli d’Italia and the Sweden Democrats, are in favor of closer ties with the center-right European People’s Party (EPP), while others, like the PiS, are still deliberating their position.
The potential formation of new right-wing groups in the European Parliament signifies a shifting landscape in the political composition of the hemicycle. With the emergence of new parties and the reconfiguration of existing groups, there is a possibility of increased fragmentation within the right-wing factions. The divisions and internal discussions within these groups highlight the complex dynamics at play in shaping the future direction of right-wing politics in Brussels. As negotiations and discussions continue, the outcome of these deliberations will have implications for the political landscape of the European Parliament in the coming years.
