Vox leaves ally Meloni for the new group Patriots for Europe
Spanish far-right party Vox leaves the Ecr group in the European Parliament to join Orban's Patriots for Europe
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Santiago Abascal, leader of the radical right-wing Spanish party Vox, is distancing himself from his ally Giorgia Meloni, the Italian Prime Minister and leader of the Ecr group uniting European Conservatives and Reformists. The delegation of the ultra-conservative Spanish party Vox led by Abascal has announced that it will leave the Ecr group in the European Parliament to join the new group Patriots for Europe, calling it 'an historic opportunity'.
The Patriots for Europe group was launched by Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban and is watched with interest by Matteo Salvini, leader of the League, and Marine Le Pen, leader of the Rassemblement national, who just won the elections in France. "Giorgia Meloni will always remain a friend and an ally," Vox said in an official note.
"An alternative to Brussels policies"
.Vox said that he was "conscious of the message that millions of Europeans sent in the elections in which they voted strongly for an alternative to the Brussels policies of recent years".
"Faced with this situation, the patriotic forces that have increased their presence in the European Parliament have a historic opportunity to fulfil the mandate of the voters, in a large group that stands as an alternative to the coalition of Populars, Socialists and the extreme left. A coalition that has had especially devastating consequences for Spaniards in areas such as security, freedom, rural areas and their economy, energy, and the sovereign control of decisions that affect our country,' said Abascal's party, emphasising that 'the new group of Patriots for Europe responds to this new reality, to the message of those Europeans who demand a radical and urgent change of course in the EU'.
Orban's Patriots growing stronger in the EU Parliament
After the exit of the six Vox MEPs, the conservative Ecr group, which is headed by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, remains third in terms of MEPs, but its advantage over the liberals of Renew Europe is reduced to just two seats: 78 against 76.
The biggest pitfall, however, could come next week, when Orban's new Patriots for Europe group will be formed. Between the formal accessions and those announced by the Hungarian premier, the group would already have enough deputies (23) and countries (7) to form a group, and could even become the third group. In fact, on balance it could bring together: Fidesz (Hungary, 10 MEPs), Fpoe (Austria, 6), Ano 2011 (Czechia, 7), Lega (Italy, 8), Vox (Spain, 6), Chega (Portugal, 2), Pvv (Netherlands, 6). If the 30 MEPs of the Rassemblement National were to be added - the announcement could come after Sunday's ballot in the French legislative elections - the group would reach 75 and the entry of other small delegations would be enough to easily obtain third place in the Euro Chamber, behind the Popular and Socialists.
