Patriots for Europe Meet in Brussels Amid European Summit

The members of Patriots for Europe gathered in Brussels for their inaugural meeting on Thursday, coinciding with the European summit. This coalition represents one of three significant factions on the right end of the political spectrum in the European Parliament, alongside the Europe of Sovereign Nations (ESN) and the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR).

These parliamentary groups, while united by their nationalist, sovereigntist, conservative, and Eurosceptic ideologies, exhibit varying stances on critical issues such as Russia, Ukraine, and their specific relationship with the European Union. Although they can broadly be categorized as far-right, many members of these parties adamantly reject such labels.

Terms like “extreme right,” “hard right,” “radical right,” “national conservative,” and “populist” have saturated the discourse surrounding these groups, creating an increasingly murky distinction between them. To clarify these differences, Euronews consulted an expert in the field.

Understanding Extremism, Illiberalism, and Nativism

Dave Sinardet, a Professor of Political Science at the Free Flemish University of Brussels, posits that the Europe of Sovereign Nations represents the most extreme far-right faction within the European Parliament. Established in July, it is the newest and smallest parliamentary group, with the Alternative for Germany (AfD) comprising over half of its 25 members. Other participants include the Polish Confederation party and Bulgarian MEPs affiliated with the pro-Russian party Renaissance.

Sinardet asserts that several parties within this group can justifiably be labeled as extremist, indicating a tendency to disregard parliamentary democracy and exhibit authoritarian characteristics. He further categorizes the group as illiberal due to its reluctance to uphold judicial independence, the rule of law, and individual liberties. Additionally, he describes their nativist stance, characterized by a strong opposition to immigration and a tendency to distinguish between immigrants and native-born citizens.

“The parties that are clearly illiberal and nativist are predominantly found within the Europe of Sovereign Nations,” Sinardet explains. “Some factions that are part of the Patriots for Europe may also exhibit illiberal traits.”

Populism: A Distinction from Demagogy

With a robust representation of 86 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), Patriots for Europe ranks as the third largest political force in the European Parliament. Founded in July, its membership list includes prominent right-wing figures from across Europe: Marine Le Pen’s Rassemblement National from France, Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz from Hungary, Matteo Salvini’s League from Italy, Santiago Abascal’s Vox party from Spain, and Herbert Kickl’s FPÖ from Austria.

Both Patriots for Europe and Europe of Sovereign Nations can be accurately described as populist movements, according to Sinardet. However, he emphasizes that populism should not be conflated with demagogy. Instead, populism reflects a binary worldview that contrasts a perceived corrupt elite against “the people,” who are portrayed as homogeneous and virtuous. Importantly, populism is not confined to the right; leftist parties like La France Insoumise also fall under this classification.

The Radical Right: Understanding the Nuances

Lastly, some parties within the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) are often labeled as “radical right” rather than far-right or extreme. This group, which comprises 78 MEPs, is primarily centered around Giorgia Meloni’s Brothers of Italy and Jarosław Kaczyński’s Law and Justice party from Poland.

Political scientist Cas Mudde elaborates that the term “radical right” refers to parties that intertwine two core ideologies: nativism and authoritarianism, both of which prioritize allegiance to authority as a fundamental principle. Sinardet adds that not all conservative and reformist parties in Europe can be deemed radical right; many maintain a more nationalist and conservative stance, while others indeed fit the radical right classification.