Social:Patriots for Europe
Template:Infobox European Parliament group Template:Conservatism in the Western world Patriots for Europe (PfE or Patriots) is a right-wing to far-right political group, formed as the third-largest group ahead of the tenth European Parliament.
The group includes all MEPs of the former Identity and Democracy group (except one MEP from AfD), as well as members from other groups. The group also seeks to coordinate the work of its members at the European Council and the Council of the European Union.[1]
History
Formation
Fidesz had been unaffiliated at the European level since leaving the European People's Party Group (EPP Group) in March 2021. ANO MEPs belonged to the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party and its affiliated Renew Europe group since 2011, but left both organisations after the 2024 European Parliament elections, citing disagreements with the party's programme. The Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) belonged to the far-right Identity and Democracy (ID) group during the ninth term (2019–2024).[2]
On 30 June 2024, the founding of the group was announced at a press conference in Vienna by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán (Fidesz), former Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO 2011), and former Austrian Minister of the Interior Herbert Kickl and MEP Harald Vilimsky (both Freedom Party of Austria).[3][4][5] Representatives of the three founding parties signed "A Patriotic Manifesto for a European Future",[6][7][8] setting out the alliance's ideological positions, including weakening the EU, a focus on European cultural identity, opposition to illegal immigration, and a revision of the European Green Deal.[9]
On 1 July, the nationalist Portuguese party Chega, with two MEPs, became the fourth member of the Patriots for Europe.[10][11] On 5 July, the Spanish Vox party also joined, leaving the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group.[12] The same day, the Dutch Party for Freedom (PVV), formerly part of the ID Group, also announced it would join.[13] On 6 July, the Danish People's Party and Vlaams Belang, both part of the ID group, announced they would also join, bringing the group above the minimum number of member states required for an official European Parliament group.[14][15] On 8 July, the National Rally (RN) and Lega were announced as new members of the group.[16][17] The prerequisite for establishing a political group of the European Parliament is the membership of at least 23 MEPs from at least seven EU member states. The alliance met this criterion on 6 July 2024.[18] According to Le Monde, the RN waited until after the second round of the 2024 French legislative election for the announcement "for fear of reviving suspicion of pro-Russian sympathies".[19]
Potential members
During the formation process, parties previously speculated as possible members of the new EU Group included:[20][21][22]
- Germany: Alternative for Germany (AfD), which has 15 MEPs (formerly part of the ID Group). However, due to previous tension between Fidesz and AfD, this was seen as unlikely,[23] with AfD stating it had no current plans to join.[24] AfD expressed interest in creating a group including Hungarian Fidesz rival Our Homeland Movement and the Bulgarian Revival. These parties eventually established a separate far-right grouping, Europe of Sovereign Nations.[25] Fidesz leader Viktor Orbán later stated in an interview that the National Rally had objected to AfD joining the Patriots for Europe group.[26]
- Poland: Law and Justice (PiS), which won 20 MEPs, initially negotiated with the Patriots for Europe, but later reached an agreement with Brothers of Italy allowing it to remain in the European Conservatives and Reformists.[27]
- Slovakia: Republic Movement, with two MEPs, expressed interest in membership,[28] but one MEP subsequently joined Europe of Sovereign Nations on 10 July.[29]
- Slovakia: Smer–SD was speculated to join the alliance with its five MEPs; however, according to its junior coalition partner, Hlas–SD, Smer–SD expressed a preference for rejoining the S&D group.[30] Although it was later rejected from S&D,[31] Smer–SD declined to join Patriots for Europe, saying that it can not join the group that "has nothing to do with social democracy".[32][33]
- Slovenia: The Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS), which won four MEPs, ultimately remained part of the EPP Group, while noting that not all SDS MEPs agreed with this decision.[34][35]
- Romania: The Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (RMDSZ), which won two MEPs, announced that the party will remain in the EPP group, because they believe that Hungarian interests can be asserted by being in separate factions, and because Fidesz has not approached them to join.[36]
10th European Parliament (2024–present)
On 8 July, Jordan Bardella, president of the French National Rally (RN), was named as the group's president.[37][38][39]
The Polish Confederation's National Movement, which won two MEPs, announced in July 2024 that it was in negotiations with Patriots for Europe, while the three Confederation MEPs from New Hope joined the ESN group, and the one Confederation of the Polish Crown MEP was not seeking to join.[40][41][42] Ultimately, the National Movement joined Patriots for Europe on 1 October.[43]
Following the expulsion of Luxembourgish Alternative Democratic Reform Party (ADR) MEP Fernand Kartheiser from the ECR group, the Patriots for Europe group approached the ADR for talks. The ADR stated that while it was considering what group the party wanted to belong to if the whole party were fully expelled from the ECR Party, it was not yet actively discussing membership with any other political group.[44]
After the expulsion of Smer-SD from the Party of European Socialists, Smer MEP Monika Beňová said the party had an offer from Patriots for Europe to join, and expressed her preference for this option.[45] However, Smer MEP Katarína Roth Neveďalová stated it was "not true" that the party was seeking to join the Patriots group, noting that the party had so far only approved a mandate to join another group, which could be possibly be a new faction.[46] Deputy Speaker of the Slovak Parliament Tibor Gašpar, a Smer MP, confirmed that the party was considering joining Patriots for Europe.[47] Smer leader Robert Fico is reportedly in "ongoing consultations" with Fidesz leader Viktor Orbán about joining the group, though Fico remains undecided.[48] Vox of Spain and Chega of Portugal signaled openness to including Smer.
MEPs
10th European Parliament

| State | National party | Former political group | European party | MEPs[49] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freedom Party of Austria Freiheitliche Partei Österreichs (FPÖ) |
Identity and Democracy | Template:Party color cell | Patriots.eu | 6 / 20
| |
| Flemish Interest Vlaams Belang (VB) |
Identity and Democracy | Template:Party color cell | Patriots.eu | 3 / 22
| |
| ANO 2011 ANO 2011 (ANO) |
Renew Europe[lower-alpha 1] | Template:Party color cell | Patriots.eu | 7 / 21
| |
| Přísaha[50] Přísaha občanské hnutí (Přísaha) |
N/A | Template:Party color cell | Patriots.eu[51] | 1 / 21
| |
| Motorists for Themselves[52] Motoristé sobě (AUTO) |
N/A | Template:Party color cell | Patriots.eu | 1 / 21
| |
| Danish People's Party Dansk Folkeparti (DF) |
Identity and Democracy | Template:Party color cell | Patriots.eu | 1 / 15
| |
| National Rally Rassemblement National (RN) |
Identity and Democracy | Template:Party color cell | Patriots.eu | 29 / 81
| |
| Voice of Reason Φωνή Λογικής (ΦΛ) |
N/A | Template:Party color cell | Patriots.eu | 1 / 21
| |
| Fidesz – Hungarian Civic Alliance Fidesz – Magyar Polgári Szövetség |
Non-Inscrits | Template:Party color cell | Patriots.eu | 10 / 21
| |
| Christian Democratic People's Party Kereszténydemokrata Néppárt (KDNP) |
European People's Party Group[lower-alpha 2] | Template:Party color cell | None | 1 / 21
| |
| League Lega |
Identity and Democracy | Template:Party color cell | Patriots.eu | 8 / 76
| |
| Latvia First Latvija pirmajā vietā (LPV) |
N/A | Template:Party color cell | Patriots.eu | 1 / 9
| |
| Party for Freedom Partij voor de Vrijheid (PVV) |
Identity and Democracy[lower-alpha 3] | Template:Party color cell | Patriots.eu | 6 / 31
| |
| National Movement[lower-alpha 4] Ruch Narodowy (RN) |
Non-Inscrits | Template:Party color cell | Patriots.eu | 2 / 53
| |
| Enough! Chega! |
N/A[lower-alpha 5] | Template:Party color cell | Patriots.eu | 2 / 21
| |
| Vox Vox |
European Conservatives and Reformists[lower-alpha 6] | Template:Party color cell | Patriots.eu | 6 / 61
| |
| Total | 85 / 720
| ||||
Organization
President
| President | Took office | Left office | State | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jordan Bardella | 70px | 8 July 2024 | present | 75px National Rally | |
Bureau
2024–present
Group bureau during the 10th European Parliament.[53]
| Position | Name | State | National party | European party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| President | Jordan Bardella | National Rally | Template:Party color cell | Patriots.eu | |
| First Vice-President | Kinga Gál | Fidesz | Template:Party color cell | Patriots.eu | |
| Vice-President | Harald Vilimsky | Freedom Party of Austria | Template:Party color cell | Patriots.eu | |
| Vice-President | António Tânger Corrêa | Chega | Template:Party color cell | Patriots.eu | |
| Vice-President | Sebastiaan Stöteler | Party for Freedom | Template:Party color cell | Patriots.eu | |
| Vice-President | Klára Dostálová | ANO 2011 | Template:Party color cell | Patriots.eu | |
| Vice-President | Hermann Tertsch | Vox | Template:Party color cell | Patriots.eu | |
| Chief Whip | Anders Vistisen | Danish People's Party | Template:Party color cell | Patriots.eu | |
| Treasurer | Gerolf Annemans | Vlaams Belang | Template:Party color cell | Patriots.eu | |
| Co-head of Czech delegation | Ondřej Knotek | ANO 2011 | Template:Party color cell | Patriots.eu | |
| Co-head of Czech delegation | Filip Turek | AUTO | Template:Party color cell | Patriots.eu | |
| Head of Belgian delegation | Tom Vandendriessche | Vlaams Belang | Template:Party color cell | Patriots.eu | |
| Head of French delegation | Jean-Paul Garraud | National Rally | Template:Party color cell | Patriots.eu | |
| Head of Greek delegation | Afroditi Latinopoulou | Voice of Reason | Template:Party color cell | Patriots.eu | |
| Head of Hungarian delegation | Tamás Deutsch | Fidesz | Template:Party color cell | Patriots.eu | |
| Head of Italian delegation | Paolo Borchia | League | Template:Party color cell | Patriots.eu | |
| Head of Latvian delegation | Vilis Krištopans | Latvia First | Template:Party color cell | Patriots.eu | |
| Head of Polish delegation | Anna Bryłka | National Movement | Template:Party color cell | Patriots.eu | |
| Head of Spanish delegation | Jorge Buxadé | Vox | Template:Party color cell | Patriots.eu | |
See also
Notes
- ↑ ANO announced its departure from ALDE and Renew Europe on 21 June 2024, with leader Andrej Babiš declaring that ANO would not be able to fulfill its program as part of those groups. ANO considered joining other EU political groups after its departure, before successfully negotiating the creation of the Patriots for Europe alliance with Fidesz and the FPÖ.
- ↑ KDNP left the EPP party and the EPP group, after the EPP group decided to admit the TISZA party. After the creation of the Patriots for Europe alliance, KDNP decided to join.
- ↑ Their MEP left PVV and eventually the ID group.
- ↑ Part of the Confederation alliance. Its other members did not join.
- ↑ The party contested the 2019 European Parliament election as a member of the ID Party, but failed to win any seats. After the 2024 election, the party gained representation and decided to join PfE.
- ↑ Vox left the ECR Group on 5 July.
References
- ↑ "Orban's new Patriots for Europe group is targeting the council, not the parliament". 1 July 2024. https://euobserver.com/eu-political/ar7e524613.
- ↑ "'Patriots for Europe': Hungary's Orban announces new EU Parliament alliance". https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/6/30/patriots-for-europe-hungarys-orban-announces-new-eu-parliament-alliance.
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs nameddw - ↑ "Patrioti pro Evropu. ANO, Fidesz a FPÖ zakládají novou politickou alianci" (in cs). Deník. Czech News Agency. 2024-06-30. https://www.denik.cz/cesko-a-eu/andrej-babis-viktor-orban-fidesz-ano-fpo-aliance.html.
- ↑ "Vlastenci pro Evropu. ANO, Fidesz a Svobodná strana Rakouska zakládají politickou alianci" (in cs). 2024-06-30. https://www.irozhlas.cz/zpravy-svet/andrej-babis-ano-fidesz-viktor-orban-svobodna-strana-rakouska_2406301027_ako.
- ↑ ""Patriotisches Manifest – Erklärung mit Herbert Kickl, Viktor Orbán, Andrej Babiš & Harald Vilimsky"". Vienna. 30 June 2024. https://www.fpoe.eu/patrioten-fuer-europa-kickl-fpoe-orban-fidesz-babis-ano-gaben-startschuss-fuer-neue-patriotische-allianz/.
- ↑ ""Patrioten für Europa": Kickl (FPÖ), Orbán (Fidesz), Babiš (ANO) gaben Startschuss für neue patriotische Allianz!". Vienna. 30 June 2024. https://www.fpoe.at/artikel/patrioten-fuer-europa-kickl-fpoe-orban-fidesz-babis-ano-gaben-startschuss-fuer-neue-patrioti/.
- ↑ Andrej Babiš (30 June 2024). "VLASTENECKÝ MANIFEST PRO EVROPSKOU BUDOUCNOST"" (in cs). Vienna. https://www.facebook.com/AndrejBabis/posts/pfbid02fz9AFYsqHmpv3zuSoLD71mtHcDfTDEiUdkRaAep8G6ZHBDpLtcZWoxqu7fNBd2XPl.
- ↑ "Babiš, Orbán a Kickl zakládají vlasteneckou alianci" (in cs). Borgis. 2024-06-30. https://www.novinky.cz/clanek/zahranicni-babis-orban-a-kickl-zakladaji-vlasteneckou-alianci-40478413.
- ↑ "Extrema-direita portuguesa junta-se à aliança "Patriotas pela Europa" de Viktor Orbán" (in pt). 2024-07-01. https://pt.euronews.com/my-europe/2024/07/01/extrema-direita-portuguesa-junta-se-a-alianca-patriotas-pela-europa-de-viktor-orban.
- ↑ "Portugal's Chega party to join Orbán's new far-right alliance". 2024-07-01. https://www.politico.eu/article/portugal-chega-party-andre-ventura-join-viktor-orban-new-far-right-alliance/.
- ↑ "Vox leaves Meloni's ECR for Orban's new 'Patriots'". 5 July 2024. https://www.ansa.it/english/news/2024/07/05/vox-leaves-melonis-ecr-for-orbans-new-patriots_49e7edab-b24c-4fa0-b37b-6a484ffac6af.html.
- ↑ "x.com". https://x.com/geertwilderspvv/status/1809269979457417639. Retrieved July 7, 2024.
- ↑ "x.com". https://x.com/AndersVistisen/status/1809560229715079643. Retrieved July 7, 2024.
- ↑ "x.com". https://x.com/tomvangrieken/status/1809638940288188840. Retrieved July 7, 2024.
- ↑ "x.com". https://x.com/zoltanspox/status/1810246146142413033?s=46&t=5ykVSjLUcF5_QLpfJWkkJg. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
- ↑ "x.com". https://x.com/matteosalvinimi/status/1810220106703626327. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
- ↑ Sajó, Dávid (6 July 2024). "A Dán Néppárt is csatlakozik Orbánék európai pártcsoportjához, megvan a szükséges létszám a frakcióhoz". Telex. https://telex.hu/kulfold/2024/07/06/orban-ep-frakcio-szelsojobb.
- ↑ "Le RN va rejoindre une nouvelle alliance au Parlement européen dirigée par le premier ministre hongrois, Viktor Orban". 8 July 2024. https://www.lemonde.fr/politique/live/2024/07/08/en-direct-legislatives-2024-de-nombreux-responsables-politiques-prennent-la-parole-ce-soir-a-la-television_6247441_823448.html#id-1672292.
- ↑ Scheffer, Joakim (2024-07-01). "The EP's Potentially Strongest Right-Wing Group — Who Could Join PM Orbán's Patriots for Europe?". https://www.hungarianconservative.com/articles/politics/patriots-for-europe_viktor-orban_right-wing_european-parliament_ecr_id_hungary/.
- ↑ "Portugal's far right joins Orbán's 'Patriots for Europe' alliance". 2024-07-01. https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2024/07/01/portugals-far-right-joins-viktor-orbans-patriots-for-europe-alliance.
- ↑ Zachová, Aneta (2024-06-30). "Orbán, Babiš, Kickl create new "patriotic" alliance to redefine EU policies, eye new Parliament group". https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/orban-babis-kickl-create-new-patriotic-alliance-to-redefine-eu-policies-eye-new-parliament-group/.
- ↑ Benakis, Theodoros (2024-07-01). "Far-right AfD eyes Orbán's new group in the European Parliament". https://www.europeaninterest.eu/far-right-afd-eyes-orbans-new-group-in-the-european-parliament/.
- ↑ Stellmacher, John (2024-07-01). "New European right-wing alliance initially without AfD". https://aussiedlerbote.de/en/new-european-right-wing-alliance-initially-without-afd/.
- ↑ Starcevic, Seb; Wax, Eddy (2024-07-10). "New far-right group led by Germany's AfD founded in European Parliament". https://www.politico.eu/article/new-far-right-group-european-parliament-germany-afd/.
- ↑ "Hungarian PM Opens for Dialogue With German AfD". European Conservative. 3 February 2025. https://europeanconservative.com/articles/news/hungarian-pm-opens-for-dialogue-with-german-afd/.
- ↑ Genovese, Vincenzo (3 July 2024). "Poland's Law and Justice says no to Orbán's Patriots and stays with Meloni's group in EU Parliament". https://au.news.yahoo.com/polands-law-justice-says-no-160800058.html.
- ↑ Zmušková, Barbara; Griera, Max (8 July 2024). "Orbán v europarlamente zabodoval. Patrioti pre Európu môžu mať reálnu moc" (in sk). https://euractiv.sk/section/europska-politika/news/orban-v-europarlamente-zabodoval-patrioti-pre-europu-mozu-mat-realnu-moc/.
- ↑ Liboreiro, Jorge; Genovese, Vincenzo (10 July 2024). "AfD and allies form new far-right group in Brussels called Europe of Sovereign Nations". https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2024/07/10/afd-and-allies-form-new-far-right-group-in-brussels-called-europe-of-sovereign-nations.
- ↑ Scheffer, Joakim (2024-07-01). "The EP's Potentially Strongest Right-Wing Group — Who Could Join PM Orbán's Patriots for Europe". https://www.hungarianconservative.com/articles/politics/patriots-for-europe_viktor-orban_right-wing_european-parliament_ecr_id_hungary/.
- ↑ HARZER, FILIP (10 July 2024). "Europoslanci Směru dali vale socialistům, mluví se o námluvách s Patrioty" (in cs). https://www.seznamzpravy.cz/clanek/volby-eurovolby-europoslanci-smeru-dali-vale-socialistum-mluvi-se-o-namluvach-s-patrioty-255541.
- ↑ Silenská, Natália (12 July 2024). "Fico's Smer will not join new Patriots for Europe group, cites ideological divide". https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/ficos-smer-will-not-join-new-patriots-for-europe-group-cites-ideological-divide/.
- ↑ Ahmet Gencturk (12 July 2024). "Slovak premier hints his social democratic party won't join right-wing Patriots alliance in European Parliament". Anadolu Ajansı. https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/slovak-premier-hints-his-social-democratic-party-wont-join-right-wing-patriots-alliance-in-european-parliament/3273877.
- ↑ Dlhopolec, Peter; Eisenchteter, Jules; Ciobanu, Claudia; Watson, Nicholas (2024-07-05). "Democracy Digest: Hungary Centre Stage as EU Presidency Begins and PM Visits Kyiv". https://balkaninsight.com/2024/07/05/democracy-digest-hungary-centre-stage-as-eu-presidency-begins-and-pm-visits-kyiv/.
- ↑ "SDS ostaja del EPP, mnenja znotraj stranke so različna". Portal24. 7 September 2024. https://portal24.si/sds-ostaja-del-epp-mnenja-znotraj-stranke-so-razlicna/.
- ↑ "Nem csatlakozik Orbán Viktorék EP-frakciójához az RMDSZ sem". 4 July 2024. https://transtelex.ro/kozelet/2024/07/04/nem-csatlakozik-orban-viktorek-ep-frakciojahoz-az-rmdsz.
- ↑ Fortuna, Gerardo (8 July 2024). "Far-right Patriots group springs to third force in European Parliament". https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2024/07/08/far-right-patriots-group-springs-to-third-force-in-european-parliament.
- ↑ "Patriots for Europe become the third largest group in the European Parliament". 2024-07-08. https://agenparl.eu/2024/07/08/patriots-for-europe-become-the-third-largest-group-in-the-european-parliament/.
- ↑ "Patriots for Europe becomes EU parliament's 3rd-largest group, picks Jordan Bardella as president". 8 July 2024. https://www.politico.eu/article/patriots-for-europe-jordan-bardella-viktor-orban-marine-le-pen/.
- ↑ ADAMCZYK, GRZEGORZ (3 July 2024). "Confederation MEP rules out alliance with Germany's AfD, eyes other European groups". https://rmx.news/article/confederation-mep-rules-out-alliance-with-germanys-afd-eyes-other-european-groups/.
- ↑ "Konfederacja podzielona w europarlamencie? Źródło: troje z AfD, dwoje z Orbanem, a z Braunem nikt nie rozmawia". TV24. 9 July 2024. https://tvn24.pl/swiat/konfederacja-podzielona-w-europarlamencie-poslowie-rozwazaja-dolaczenie-do-roznych-frakcji-st7996809.
- ↑ "Polish Konfederacja split between Patriots and Sovereigntists in European Parliament". Brussels Signal. 10 July 2024. https://brusselssignal.eu/2024/07/polish-konfederacja-split-between-patriots-and-sovereigntists-in-european-parliament/.
- ↑ @PatriotsEP. "With MEP @annabrylka and MEP @buczek_tomasz, the Patriots in the European Parliament are gaining two new MEPs.". https://twitter.com/PatriotsEP/status/1841154088932683914. Missing or empty |date= (help)
- ↑ "With Expulsion from ECR Looming, Luxembourg Party Reportedly Eyes Patriots". Hungary Today. 20 June 2025. https://hungarytoday.hu/with-expulsion-from-ecr-looming-luxembourg-party-reportedly-eyes-patriots/.
- ↑ "Party of European Socialists Fully Expels Smer-SD". TASR. 17 October 2025. https://www.tasr.sk/tasr-clanok/TASR:2025101700000279.
- ↑ "Smer vylúčili zo Strany európskych socialistov (PES). Pridá sa k tvrdej či krajnej pravici?". Aktuality. 17 October 2025. https://www.aktuality.sk/clanok/qblbSxa/smer-vylucili-zo-strany-europskych-socialistov-pes-prida-sa-k-tvrdej-ci-krajnej-pravici/. "Smerácki europoslanci by sa mohli pridať ku krajným pravičiarom, populistom a takzvanej „tvrdej pravici". Beňová je za, jej kolegyňa Roth-Neveďalová to odmieta."
- ↑ "Gašpar: Blaha si symbolicky otvoril šampus a oslavoval, keď nás vylúčili z PES - ROZHOVOR". SITA. 21 October 2025. https://sita.sk/gaspar-blaha-si-symbolicky-otvoril-sampus-a-oslavoval-ked-nas-vylucili-z-pes-rozhovor/.
- ↑ "Slovakia's Robert Fico in talks with Viktor Orbán about his Smer party joining Patriots for Europe". Euronews. 24 October 2025. https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2025/10/24/slovakias-robert-fico-is-in-talks-with-viktor-orban-about-his-party-joining-patriots.
- ↑ "MEPs by Member State and political group". https://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/search/table.
- ↑ "MEP: Nikola BARTŮŠEK". 16 July 2024. https://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/256852/NIKOLA_BARTUSEK/home.
- ↑ "PRESS RELEASE - PATRIOTS GENERAL ASSEMBLY - PARIS 16 NOVEMBER". https://patriots.eu/home/f/press-release---patriots-general-assembly---paris-16-november.
- ↑ "MEP: Filip TUREK". 16 July 2024. https://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/256850/FILIP_TUREK/home.
- ↑ https://www.patriotsforeurope.eu
External links
Template:EuroparlGroup Template:Political organisations at European Union level
