Far-right parties from 12 countries, including France’s National Rally and Hungary’s ruling Fidesz, have joined together to form a new bloc in the European Parliament and plan to become a major political force. The European Parliament moved perceptibly to the right following Europe-wide elections a month ago. Mainstream center-right and center-left groups still hold the majority, but the new right-wing bloc could alter the balance of power and influence in the EU's Parliament. The new bloc, dubbed Patriots for Europe, is made up of 84 EU lawmakers and will be led by Jordan Bardella, the 28-year-old protégé of Marine Le Pen. Kinga Gál, from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party, will be first vice president. Right-wing parties from Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Greece, Italy, Latvia, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain are also involved. Forming a group brings parties more influence, money and the possibility of coveted posts on parliamentary committees. Italy’s far-right League party has signed up, as has the Party for Freedom of anti-immigration Dutch leader Geert Wilders. Spain’s far-right Vox party joined too after defecting from the nationalist European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) bloc of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. For in-depth analysis and a deeper perspective on the new pan-European coalition of national populists, FRANCE 24's François Picard is joined by fellow journalist Kethevane Gorjestani and Jacques Rupnik, Professor and Director of Research at Sciences Po's Centre for International Studies.
