Europe: Orban, Babiš, Kickl Create New Political Alliance
“We will not stand by and watch the European superpower develop,” explained the leaders of the FPÖ (Austria), ANO (Czechia), and Fidesz (Hungary) formations
While Brussels finalizes the agreements that will determine the final positions after the June 6-9 European elections, an alliance is being shape in Vienna, bringing together some “sovereign” forces that seek to create a new group in the European Parliament.
Austrian Freedom Party (FPÖ) leader Herbert Kickl, member of liberal-populist formation ANO and former Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban announced on June 30 the birth of a political alliance of patriotic forces that all play a leading role in their respective countries, Italian news agency ANSA reported from a press conference introducing the movement, “and that want to attract other European parties and then unite to give Europe a future again.”
23 MEPs from at least 7 different countries are needed to form a European political group in the Parliament. At the moment, the situation is as follows: FPÖ has 6 seats, ANO has 7, and the Hungarian Fidesz has 10. The strongest right-wing parliamentary group in the European Parliament at the moment is the ECR (European Conservatives and Reformists), which has 83 representatives and constitutes the third absolute force after the People’s Party and the Socialists. FPÖ belonged to Identity and Democracy (ID), the smallest right-wing force, ANO belonged to the liberal group Renewal, and Fidesz belonged to the European People’s Party (EPP).
“This new patriotic alliance represents the path of reason,” commented Austrian Kickl. “National competencies are once again tied to the homeland,” and its goal is to go against “the postulate of subsidiarity, the escalation of illegal immigration,” while calling for “a peaceful solution to the war between Russia and Ukraine.” And more: “I am convinced that many others will join us in the coming days. We are not interested in destroying Europe; we see our task as revitalizing the pluralistic character of our continent. We will not stand idly by and watch the development of a European superpower.”