Le Pen and Orban forces unite in EU parliament forming new far-right bloc

Jan van der Made with RFI

9 July 2024 at 8:35 am·1-min read

Marine Le Pen's National Rally formed an alliance with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's political group in the European Parliament on Monday, establishing a new far-right faction. This move came just one day after Le Pen's party experienced an unexpected setback in French legislative elections.

Jordan Bardella, the 28-year-old leader of Marine Le Pen's National Rally (RN) party, will head the newly formed Patriots for Europe group in the European Parliament, as announced by French MEP Jean-Paul Garraud at the group's Brussels launch.

The new faction, comprising 84 members from 12 countries with the RN contributing the largest share of 30 MEPs, now surpasses Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's far-right bloc to become the third-largest group in the European Parliament.

Kinga Gal, a member of Viktor Orban's Fidesz party and the group's first vice-president, outlined their objectives to the press: "We aim to reshape EU policymaking, preserve Europe's Indo-Christian heritage, strengthen external border protection, and promote a robust, competitive Europe."

The founding of the Patriots for Europe was announced at a press conference in Vienna in late June 2024 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).

(With newswires)

The Telegraph
Watch: The six gaffes that show why Biden had to quit
Joe Biden has announced he is standing down as the Democratic nominee.
INSIDER
Elon Musk asked OpenAI investor Vinod Khosla to support Trump. Khosla said he doesn't 'accept depravity'.
Vinod Khosla on Sunday urged Democrats to select a moderate candidate against Trump after Biden exits, leading to a heated exchange with Elon Musk.
The Independent
Some Democrat donors reportedly left fuming after Kamala Harris call: ‘A total failure’
Two days before Biden officially dropped out of the 2024 race, donors complained of a ‘mismanaged’ call about the president’s future
The Daily Beast
Opinion: She Sucked Up to Trump but He Dropped Her Anyway
Bestselling author and faux hillbilly J.D. Vance is officially Donald Trump’s pick for vice president, God help us all. And even though it’s only been a few days, the nation has collectively forgotten all the sycophantic vice-presidential hopefuls left behind.But I haven’t.All the potential veeps were embarrassing in their own way. Marco Rubio: always a twerp, somehow became even twerpier when kissing up to the former president. Tim Scott shall always be remembered for totally coincidentally get
The Telegraph
‘You’re full of s---, you must quit,’ Secret Service chief told over failure to stop Trump shooting
The director of the US Secret Service was told she was “full of s---” during an excruciating congressional hearing in which she was told she should resign.
Associated Press
Philippine president orders shutdown of Chinese-run online gambling industry employing thousands
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday ordered an immediate ban on widespread and mostly Chinese-run online gaming operations, accusing them of venturing into crimes, including financial scams, human trafficking, torture, kidnappings and murder. Marcos announced the decision during his state-of-the-nation address, when he also said that the Philippines would press efforts to strengthen its defensive capability by forging security alliances with friendly countries to counter threats to its territorial interests in the South China Sea, adding that his country would only settle disputes through diplomacy. The Philippines has a complicated relationship with China, including significant trade engagements and cooperation against crime.
The Independent
Multibillion-pound RAF fighter jet Tempest unveiled ahead of strategic defence review
It will replace the RAF’s Eurofighter Typhoon, which has been in service since 2003
The Telegraph
Why has Obama not endorsed Harris?
Barack Obama and Kamala Harris go back more than two decades. She campaigned for him in 2004, when he was an unknown candidate for the Senate and she was San Francisco’s district attorney.
The Independent
Why a second Trump presidency would mean turmoil for Taiwan
IN FOCUS: After four years in which the Biden administration has strengthened its defensive assurances for Taiwan, experts tell Shweta Sharma that Trump would almost certainly take a more transactional approach
The Guardian
‘I’m a person again’: the Ukrainian convicts recruited to fight the war
Kyiv has freed 3,800 prisoners early to plug gaps in its army as military outfits compete to attract suitable convicts
The Independent
Prosecutors question South Korea’s first lady for over Dior bag scandal
Prosecutors quiz Kim Keon Hee for 12 hours at an undiscolosed government building
The Telegraph
Madam President: Kamala Harris vs Michelle Obama
Joe Biden has announced that he will “stand down” and not run for reelection.
HuffPost
Hollywood Democrats, Biden-Skeptical Celebrities React To His Decision To Drop Out
Everyone, from major Democratic donor Barbra Streisand to staunch Biden critic Cardi B, had something to say.
HuffPost
George Conway Trolls His Ex Kellyanne Conway With Stark Reminder About Trump
The former Trump aide’s criticism of Kamala Harris on Fox News earned a mocking response from her ex-husband.
Sky News
Israel confirms deaths of two hostages in Gaza
Israel's military has confirmed the deaths of two men who were taken as hostages by Hamas on 7 October. "Today, the IDF informed the families of the two hostages Alex Dancyg and Yagev Buchshtab that they are no longer alive," the Israeli Defence Forces said in a statement on X.
The Hill
Pence: Biden ‘made the right decision for our country’
Former Vice President Mike Pence on Monday praised President Biden’s decision not to seek reelection and urged leaders in both parties to “project calm” after a tumultuous few weeks in the political world. “President Joe Biden made the right decision for our country and I thank him for putting the interests of our Nation ahead…
The Wrap
Kamala Harris’ Viral ‘Coconut Tree’ Comments That Turned Into a Meme, Explained | Video
We'll give you the context of all in which this vice presidential meme lives and what came before it The post Kamala Harris’ Viral ‘Coconut Tree’ Comments That Turned Into a Meme, Explained | Video appeared first on TheWrap.
INSIDER
Secret Service tried to block Trump team request for metal detectors at his son's high school graduation, report says
The Secret Service reportedly argued that Barron Trump's graduation was not a "political" event before eventually caving in.
The Independent
Why thousands of students have taken to streets in deadly protests in Bangladesh
Bangladesh grapples with the worst unrest in nearly a decade
HuffPost
Joe Scarborough Rips Donald Trump With ‘Most Telling’ Part Of GOP Response To Biden News
"What a tell," said the cohost of MSNBC's "Morning Joe."

Latest stories