The European Parliament’s Far-right Group of European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) has recently reorganized itself, boosting its membership to 84 members. This move has positioned the ECR as the third largest group in the parliament, surpassing the Liberals who currently have 75 parliamentarians. Within the ECR, the largest national delegations come from Italy and Poland.
There had been speculation that Poland’s opposition party Law and Justice (PiS) might join a new right-wing faction called “Patriots for Europe” alongside Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl. However, despite having enough MEPs to form a parliamentary group, they still lack supporters from four other EU countries, preventing the formation of this new alliance.
In addition to PiS, there were also rumors about potential involvement from Italian Lega, French Rassemblement National (RN), led by Marine Le Pen, and Portuguese right-wing populist party Enough-I’m Gone. However, none of these parties joined the new faction.
Despite these various possibilities, the ECR has solidified its position as a significant force within the European Parliament with its reorganization and increased membership. With its latest move, it has emerged as a major player in shaping the future of European politics.