Kinga Gál, an MEP of Hungary’s ruling Fidesz, said Patriots for Europe, the new European Parliament party family, has established its EP group with 84 MEPs from 12 member states.
Gál said after the group’s inaugural session that the new group aims to bring change to the European Union’s politics. Gál, who has been appointed the group’s first vice-president, said Patriots for Europe was now the EP’s third biggest group and the “biggest patriotic group” ever to have existed in the legislative body. Patriots for Europe comprises 30 MEPs from France’s National Rally (Rassemblement National, RN), 11 from Fidesz, 7 from Czechia’s ANO 2 from Oath and Motorists for Themselves, 6 from Austria’s Freedom Party (FPO), 3 from Belgium’s Flemish Interest (Vlaams Belang), 8 from Italy’s Lega party, 6 from the Netherlands’ Party for Freedom (PVV), 6 from Spain’s VOX party, 2 from Portugal’s Chega and one MEP each from Denmark’s Danish People’s Party, Greece’s Voice of Reason, and Latvia First. The group has appointed RN leader Jordan Bardella as its president and Gál its first vice-president. Its other vice-presidents are Roberto Vannaci (Lega), Klára Dostálová (ANO), Sebastien Stöteler (PVV) and Anders Vistisen (Danish People’s Party). Before the official announcement, Matteo Salvini said on Facebook that “a large party group is about to be born” with the participation of his Lega party, “and this will be key to changing the future of Europe”. Lega is set to announce that it will leave its current party family, Identity and Democracy, and join Patriots for Europe, within hours, he said.