Belang and Wilders join Orban's alliance in the EP
The far-right Vlaams Belang (VB) in Belgium and the far-right Party for Freedom (PVV), led by racist and anti-Islamic Geert Wilders in the Netherlands, have joined the anti-European Union (EU) "Patriots for Europe" alliance spearheaded by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
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VB leader Tom Van Grieken announced in a post on his X account that they have joined the Patriots for Europe alliance, a new political group that Orban is attempting to establish in the European Parliament (EP).
Van Grieken stated, "A new wind is blowing in Europe. Nationalist parties are stronger than ever. Because of our love for our Europe, it is time for less EU and less migration."
Wilders also announced on his social media account that the PVV has joined the Patriots for Europe formation, noting the following:
"We are PVV patriots, we love our strong and sovereign nation. We resist illegal migration. We defend peace and freedom and support Ukraine. We protect our Judeo-Christian heritage and our families."
With the participation of these parties, Patriots for Europe has met the requirement of having members from at least 7 countries to form a political group in the EP. Orban is expected to make the official announcement regarding the establishment of the new group tomorrow.
Following the strengthening of the far-right in the recent EP elections, alliances between political parties have begun to take shape. Representatives of the far-right and anti-EU Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ), the Hungarian Civic Alliance (Fidesz), and the Action of Dissatisfied Citizens (ANO) movement in the Czech Republic, who met in Vienna, the capital of Austria, on June 30, announced that they had formed an alliance in the EP called "Patriots for Europe."
The far-right Spanish Vox and Portuguese Chega parties also announced that they had joined the alliance.
It is believed that the National Rally (RN) led by France's Marine Le Pen, currently under the umbrella of the existing far-right Identity and Democracy (ID) group in the EP, the Alternative for Germany (AfD), which is not yet a member of any political group, and the Italian Lega party, a member of the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) led by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, are potential candidates to join the alliance.