Patriots.eu | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Abbreviation | Patriots.eu |
| President | Santiago Abascal (ES) |
| Founded | 2014; 11 years ago (2014), as MENF |
| Headquarters | 75 Boulevard Haussmann, 75008Paris,France |
| Think tank | Patriots for Europe Foundation |
| Membership(26 January 2025) | 9[1] |
| Ideology | |
| Political position | Right-wing[11] tofar-right[17] |
| European Parliament group |
|
| Colours | Navy blue |
| European Parliament | 72 / 720 (10%) [18] |
| European Council | 1 / 27 (4%) [19] |
| European Commission | 0 / 27 (0%) [20] |
| European Lower Houses | 280 / 6,312 |
| European Upper Houses | 119 / 1,498 |
| Website | |
patriots | |
Patriots.eu (French:Patriotes.eu), formerly known as theIdentity and Democracy Party (ID orID Party) and theMovement for a Europe of Nations and Freedom (MENF), is anationalist,[2]right-wing populist[2] andEurosceptic[3]European political party founded in 2014. ItsMembers of the European Parliament sat in theEurope of Nations and Freedom group from 2015 to 2019, then in theIdentity and Democracy group between 2019 and 2024; following the2024 European Parliament election, all of its MEPs sit within thePatriots for Europe group.
In the aftermath of the2014 European Parliament election, parties affiliated with theEuropean Alliance for Freedom unsuccessfully attempted to form apolitical group of the European Parliament.[21][22][23] After unsuccessfully forming a group,National Rally,Northern League,Freedom Party of Austria,Vlaams Belang and theCivic Conservative Party formed MENF.[24]
Later in 2014, they decided to create a new European-level structure, which became the Movement for a Europe of Nations and Freedom. The DutchParty for Freedom (PVV) chose not to participate in this pan-European party, as it declined to be funded by the European Union.[25] The PolishCongress of the New Right (KNP), initially claimed that it would be part of the new alliance, but was accused in a press release by the FrenchNational Rally of spreading false claims in the Polish and Austrian media.[26] Ultimately the KNP took part in the creation of the party's new parliamentary group as its former leaderJanusz Korwin-Mikke was evicted from the party to be replaced by Michal Marusik.
It was recognised by the European Parliament (EP) in 2015. Its maximum grant by the EP for this year[when?] is €1,170,746[27] plus €621,677 for its affiliatedpolitical foundation, theFondation pour une Europe des Nations et des Libertés.[28]
On 16 June 2015, theEurope of Nations and Freedom parliamentary group was created in theEuropean Parliament with members of the MENF (RN, FPÖ, LN, VB) as well as the PVV, Poland'sKNP and a former member ofUKIP,Janice Atkinson.
The 1st congress of the movement was held on 28 June 2015 inPerpignan, France, gathering someMEPs from theNational Rally as well as a few of its local and national representatives members; the objective of this meeting was mainly about making the 1st year of action of the National Rally's MEPs in review.[29]
On 15 September 2015, the FlemishVlaams Belang (VB) and the movement organised a colloquium dealing with sovereignty which took place in theFlemish Parliament with VB's leaderTom Van Grieken, MEPGerolf Annemans, VB's member Barbara Pas andNational Rally's leaderMarine Le Pen.[30] All of the Flemish parties approvedMarine Le Pen's visit at the Flemish Parliament although the speaker of the Flemish ParliamentJan Peumans (N-VA) decided not to be part of this colloquium.[31]
On 21 November 2015, MENF's think tank "Foundation for a Europe of Nations and Freedom" organised a colloquium ("L'euro, un échec inéluctable?") dealing withEuro and how it might be an inescapable failure.Jacques Sapir took part in this colloquium among others. The FENF, chaired byGerolf Annemans, organised another colloquium on 2 April 2016 in Paris dealing with union representation and the development of professional organisations in France.[32]
The third colloquium of the movement took place on 4 March 2016 in theFlemish Parliament with VB's leaderTom Van Grieken andPVV's leaderGeert Wilders. This colloquium entitled "Freedom" ("Vrijheid") dealt with liberties in Europe and how they would be threatened by immigration from "countries with cultures which are fundamentally different [from the European ones]".[33]
The movement's member parties and allies met in July 2016 in Vienna, in an event hosted by Austria's FPÖ. The French National Rally,Matteo Salvini's Northern League, the German AfD, Belgium'sVlaams Belang and the Dutch Party for Freedom were present, among other independent politicians and smaller European parties.[34]
According toPolitico, the movement owed in 2016 theEuropean Parliament €535,818. The reasons given by Politico were the forbidden use of European grants by the MENF party to finance national political parties and referendum campaigns.[35] The party strongly denied these allegations by saying that they just had to give the unused EU funds back to the European Parliament.[36]
In 2019, the party expanded by including theEstonian Conservative People's Party in February,We Are Family in March and theLeague in September. After the2019 European Parliament election the party re-branded to the Identity and Democracy Party as the European political party for theIdentity and Democracy Group in theNinth European Parliament.
In July 2020 the Portuguese nationalist party,Chega joined.[37]
In July 2023,Alternative for Germany (AfD) officially joined the ID Party, having been a member of the ID EU Parliament Group since 2019.[38]
In January 2024, theSlovak National Party and the BulgarianRevival joined the ID Party.[39] However, the latter soon left.[citation needed]
In June 2024, the AfD left the ID Party to pre-empt its expulsion.[40]
In August 2024, the ID Party renamed itself to Patriots.eu,[41][42] with a new manifesto issued.[43] The new statutes published by the European Parliament revealed that Vlaams Belang'sGerolf Annemans would continue as President, with the National Rally'sCatherine Griset receiving the Treasurer position.Freedom and Direct Democracy and theSlovak National Party were no longer listed as members,[44] with the former instead joiningEurope of Sovereign Nations.
In September 2024, the HungarianFidesz, the GreekVoice of Reason, the SpanishVox and CzechANO were announced as new members of Patriots.eu.[45]
At the Patriots.eu's general assembly in November 2024, Vox leaderSantiago Abascal was elected the new president of the party, succeeding Gerolf Annemans, while the PolishNational Movement and the CzechPřísaha andMotorists for Themselves parties were announced as new member parties.[46]
In February 2025, Patriots.eu hosted a rally in Madrid with the theme 'Make Europe Great Again', which was addressed byMarine Le Pen,Geert Wilders,Santiago Abascal,Matteo Salvini,Andrej Babiš,Martin Helme,Krzysztof Bosak and other party leaders.[47][48][49] Following the rally, Israeli ruling partyLikud was announced as the first Observer member of Patriots.eu.[50]
On 10 March 2025, theDanish People’s Party andLatvia First were added as members of Patriots.eu.[51]
The Patriots.eu's platform is based around building a Europe that is united, rejecting the complete dismantling of theEuropean Union, however is critical of the current activities of the European Union which it accuses of being ultra-liberal and too bureaucratic. The party platform wishes to build a Europe that is composed of nations that maintain their sovereignty and identity.[52][non-primary source needed]
| Country | Party | Leader | Political group | European Parliament[a] | National lower houses | National upper houses | Position in national legislature | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Austria | Freedom Party of Austria Freiheitliche Partei Österreichs (FPÖ) | Herbert Kickl | Patriots for Europe | 6 / 20 | 58 / 183 | 10 / 61 | Opposition | |
 Belgium | Flemish Interest Vlaams Belang (VB) | Tom Van Grieken | Patriots for Europe | 3 / 22 | 20 / 87 | 7 / 60 | Opposition | |
 Czech Republic | ANO 2011 ANO 2011 (ANO) | Andrej Babiš | Patriots for Europe | 7 / 21 | 71 / 200 | 12 / 81 | Opposition | |
| Oath Civic Movement Přísaha občanské hnutí (Přísaha) | Róbert Šlachta | Patriots for Europe | 1 / 21 | 0 / 200 | 1 / 81 | Opposition | ||
| Motorists for Themselves Motoristé sobě (AUTO) | Filip Turek | Patriots for Europe | 1 / 21 | 0 / 200 | 0 / 81 | Opposition | ||
 Denmark | Danish People’s Party Dansk Folkeparti (DF) | Morten Messerschmidt | Patriots for Europe | 1 / 15 | 7 / 179 | Opposition | ||
 Estonia | Conservative People's Party of Estonia Eesti Konservatiivne Rahvaerakond (EKRE) | Martin Helme | None | 0 / 7 | 11 / 101 | Opposition | ||
 France | National Rally Rassemblement national (RN) | Jordan Bardella | Patriots for Europe | 30 / 81 | 142 / 577 | 2 / 348 | Opposition | |
 Greece | Voice of Reason Φωνή Λογικής (ΦΛ) | Afroditi Latinopoulou | Patriots for Europe | 1 / 21 | 0 / 300 | Opposition | ||
 Hungary | Fidesz – Hungarian Civic Alliance Fidesz – Magyar Polgári Szövetség | Viktor Orbán | Patriots for Europe | 10 / 21 | 116 / 199 | Government | ||
 Italy | League for Salvini Premier Lega per Salvini Premier | Matteo Salvini | Patriots for Europe | 8 / 76 | 66 / 400 | 30 / 200 | Government | |
| Northern League Lega Nord | ||||||||
 Latvia | Latvia First Latvija pirmajā vietā (LPV) | Ainārs Šlesers | Patriots for Europe | 1 / 9 | 8 / 100 | Opposition | ||
 Netherlands | Party for Freedom Partij voor de Vrijheid (PVV) | Geert Wilders | Patriots for Europe | 6 / 31 | 37 / 150 | 5 / 75 | Government | |
 Poland | National Movement Ruch Narodowy (RN) | Krzysztof Bosak | Patriots for Europe | 2 / 53 | 7 / 460 | 0 / 100 | Opposition | |
 Portugal | Enough! Chega (CH) | André Ventura | Patriots for Europe | 2 / 21 | 50 / 230 | Opposition | ||
 Spain | Vox Vox | Santiago Abascal | Patriots for Europe | 6 / 61 | 33 / 350 | 3 / 265 | Opposition | |
| Country | Party | Leader | National lower houses | National upper houses | Position in national legislature | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Israel | Likud – National Liberal Movement[55] הַלִּיכּוּד – תנועה לאומית ליברלית (הַלִּיכּוּד) | Benjamin Netanyahu | 32 / 120 | Government | ||
Bulgaria:Volya[b] (2018–2022) Bulgaria:Revival[c] (2024) Czech Republic:Civic Conservative Party[d] (2014–2016) Czech Republic:Freedom and Direct Democracy[e] (2015–2024)
Germany:Alternative for Germany[f] (2023–2024) Greece:New Right[g] (2018–2023) Poland:Congress of the New Right[h] (2014–2019)
Slovakia:We Are Family[i] (2019–2023) Slovakia:Slovak National Party[j] (2024)
United Kingdom:For Britain[k] (2019–2022)Thenational conservativeCivic Conservative Party was a founding member of the Movement for a Europe of Nations and Freedom, but left the group in 2016.
In February 2016, leader of the FPÖHeinz-Christian Strache was invited by the anti-Euro andanti-immigration partyAfD and its leaderFrauke Petry to their congress inDüsseldorf, and the AfD also announced a cooperation pact with the FPÖ.[56][57] In April 2016, AfD's vice-presidentAlexander Gauland also proposed an alliance withMarine Le Pen'sNational Rally.[58] Therefore, AfD's MEPMarcus Pretzell joined theEurope of Nations and Freedom group on 30 April 2016. The AfD was a member of the ID Party'sEuropean Parliament political group,Identity and Democracy, until 2024.[59] TheDanish People's Party (DPP) and theFinns Party were also members of the Identity and Democracy political group, and the DPP has participated in ID Party events such as their 2019 Antwerp Conference.[13][60]
The DutchParty for Freedom (PVV), despite not being a member of MENF, participated in its previous political group in the European Parliament,ENF.[61] Party leaderGeert Wilders also attended ID Party events and appears in its promotional material.[53]The Blue Party, led by former AfD leaderFrauke Petry, and theUK Independence Party, then led byGerard Batten, were both members of the ENF group. However, neither party became an official member of MENF despite being ideologically aligned.
Patriots.eu leaders also have public political relations of some kind withBrothers of Italy (FdI).[62] On 24 October 2015, MENF's leader and vice-president of the National RallyLouis Aliot met the current president of Brothers of Italy,Giorgia Meloni inTrieste for a conference on immigration.[63] Also in 2015Marine Le Pen praisedSVP's victory during the2015 Swiss election although the Swiss party does not have official links with the movement.[64] The movement launched an anti-immigration campaign in 2015 just like theSVP's campaign duringSwiss referendum on immigration in 2014. In February 2017, French MEPEdouard Ferrand met withVox's leaders during a meeting of the Spanish right-wing party.[65] Back in 2016, Vox's presidentSantiago Abascal had already met with one of theNational Rally's leaders,Louis Aliot, also one of MENF's MEPs in the European Parliament.[66]
On 24 January 2020, the ID Party's think tank, the ID Foundation, held an event in London that was addressed byBrexit Party MEPRobert Rowland.[67]
Patriots.eu have supported theVisegrád Group ofPoland,Hungary,Czech Republic andSlovakia for their opposition to theEuropean Union's migrant policies in response to theEuropean migrant crisis. Then-ID Party launched a petition to support the ruling parties of these nations.[68]Law and Justice andFidesz expressedpopulist andanti-immigrant rhetoric similar to members of ID Party, resulting in mutual support, especially fromViktor Orbán and his party.[69][70][71]Matteo Salvini andMarine Le Pen hoped to forge strong relations with Law and Justice and Fidesz prior to the2019 European Parliament election.[72] From July 2021 to January 2022, most ID Party members participated in a series of declarations and summits alongside Fidesz, Law and Justice, Vox,Greek Solution and other European nationalist parties.[73][74][75]
In October 2021, a delegation of Identity and Democracy representatives visited Slovenian Prime MinisterJanez Janša, the leader of theSlovenian Democratic Party.[76]
In 2022, Fidesz sent representatives, including Justice MinisterJudit Varga, to address ID Party events.[77][78]
In October 2023, then-ID Party hosted a gathering in Rome with representatives of Fidesz, the U.S.Republican Party, the PolishNational Movement and the IsraeliLikud.[79]
On 13 October 2023,Europe Elects revealedSOS Romania's intention to join the ID Group as well, although the party did not join any group in the European Parliament in the end.[80] On 30 October 2023, the CroatianHomeland Movement also expressed openness to joining ID, following a meeting with leading figures within ID, though it ultimately joinedEuropean Conservatives and Reformists in July 2024.[81]
In November 2023, ID member parties, along with Fidesz and Vox, participated in a conference hosted by theSerbian People's Party (SNP).[82] A politician from the Serbian People's Party,Jovan Palalić, was later interviewed by the ID Foundation,[83] stating that the SNP "works with the parties in the Identity and Democracy bloc".[84]
In December 2023, BulgarianRevival leaderKostadin Kostadinov,Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) leaderGeorge Simion, and a representative from theConfederation of the Polish Crown addressed an ID rally in Florence.[85] However, Simion clarified AUR's intention to join theEuropean Conservatives and Reformists a day prior to the rally.[86]
In March 2024, former U.S. Republican presidential candidateVivek Ramaswamy addressed an ID rally in Rome.[87]
In February 2025, a delegation from Patriots.eu visited Israel to reinforce ties withLikud, meeting withTransport MinisterMiri Regev,Diaspora Affairs MinisterAmichai Chikli,Agriculture MinisterAvi Dichter, Chairman of theShomron Regional CouncilYossi Dagan andSpeaker of the KnessetAmir Ohana.[88]
In February 2025, Argentinian PresidentJavier Milei of theLa Libertad Avanza party,Vente Venezuela leaderMaría Corina Machado and U.S.Heritage Foundation PresidentKevin Roberts addressed a Patriots.eu rally in Madrid.[47]
In February 2025, a delegation from Patriots.eu's think tank, the Patriots for Europe Foundation, visited India to meet with officials from theBharatiya Janata Party.[89][90][91]
.jpg)
(Vox, Spain) (RN, France) (RN, France) (FPÖ, Austria) (Lega, Italy)[93] (VB, Belgium) (Chega, Portugal) (ANO, Czech Republic) (PVV, Netherlands) (EKRE, Estonia) (Vox, Spain)[94] (RN, Poland) (Fidesz, Hungary) (We Are Family, Slovakia) (RN, France) (RN, France) (DF, Denmark) (Chega, Portugal) (Lega, Italy) (Fidesz, Hungary) (VB, Belgium) (FPÖ, Austria) (RN, Poland) (FL, Greece) (Vox, Spain)[95]| Organisation | Institution | Number of seats |
|---|---|---|
 European Union | European Parliament | 72 / 720 (10%) [18] |
| European Commission | 0 / 27 (0%) [20] | |
| European Council (Heads of Government) | 1 / 27 (4%) [19] | |
| Council of the European Union (Participation in Government) | ||
| Committee of the Regions | 0 / 329 (0%) [96] | |
 Council of Europe | Parliamentary Assembly | 101 / 612 (17%) (ECPA)[97] |
Members of thefar-right Identity and Democracy Group have said no to more defense integration
The Authority for European Political Parties told POLITICO it has received new statutes for the Identity and Democracy (ID) party, which includes a change of name. The political group Patriots for Europe has taken over many former ID members, and has already rebranded the party's social media to Patriots.eu, my colleague Eddy reported today.
The far-right Identity & Democracy Party — a pan-EU umbrella structure that has national parties like Portugal's Chega as members — has rebranded as Patriots.eu, following the creation of its Patriots for Europe grouping in the European Parliament.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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