Poland’s Law and Justice (PiS) has announced its decision to remain part of the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group, despite being courted by Hungary’s Viktor Orbán to join his new “Patriots for Europe” alliance. The official announcement was made during the ECR’s constitutive meeting, putting an end to days of speculation over PiS’s political future. This move means that PiS, with its 20 MEPs, will continue to align with Giorgia Meloni, the dominant figure in the ECR family, and reject Orbán’s invitation to join the far-right alliance.
The Patriots for Europe alliance, spearheaded by Orbán, has already attracted parties from Czechia, Austria, and Portugal that share similar views on key issues such as the Green Deal, EU migration policy reform, and military provisions to Ukraine. The alliance hopes to establish itself as the largest far-right group in the European Parliament by bringing together patriotic and sovereigntist parties across the continent. However, with PiS choosing to remain with the ECR, the Patriots are now three national parties short of meeting the criteria to form a parliamentary group.
The decision by PiS to stay with the ECR came as a surprise to many, as last week’s cancellation of the ECR constitutive meeting led to speculation about a potential departure of the Polish delegation. Mateusz Morawiecki, the former prime minister of Poland, had indicated that the likelihood of PiS leaving was 50/50. However, PiS ultimately opted to stay with Meloni’s Fratelli d’Italia, rather than joining forces with Orbán’s Patriots for Europe.
The choice between Meloni and Orbán may have come down to ideological differences, particularly in relation to Russia and its leader, Vladimir Putin. Orbán’s close relationship with Putin, as well as his opposition to Western sanctions on Russia, may have caused friction with PiS, which holds a more hardline stance against Russia. By choosing Meloni over Orbán, PiS has signaled its support for a more pragmatic approach on the European stage and aligned itself with those who advocate for stronger sanctions against Russia.
The decision to stay with the ECR is seen as a win for Meloni, who aims to increase the group’s influence in the European Parliament in the next legislature. With the support of PiS, Meloni and her allies can continue to push for their agenda and strike alliances with other groups to stop environmental legislation and curb irregular migration. The election of Nicola Procaccini (FdI) and Joachim Stanisław Brudziński (PiS) as co-chairs for the next five years solidifies the position of the two delegations within the ECR group, allowing them to continue calling the shots going forward.
