As the European Parliament elections in June draw near, discussions are intensifying about the need to form a united right-wing alliance. Such an alliance would significantly bolster the right’s efforts to counteract left-wing legislative processes that have largely gone unchecked in recent years. As reported by Hungarian Conservative earlier, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, founder of the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group, stated in an interview that she has made it her mission to unite European right-wing forces after the elections.

However, a new twist has emerged in the story. Marine Le Pen, the de facto leader of the French National Rally (NR), has extended an offer to Meloni: ‘Let’s team up and form the second-largest political group in the new European Parliament,’ POLITICO reported. In an interview with the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, Le Pen stated: ‘This is the moment to unite; it would be truly useful. If we succeed,

we will become the second-largest group in the European Parliament.

I think we should not let an opportunity like this pass us by.’

Le Pen and the National Rally (NR) are members of the Identity and Democracy (ID) political group, which is expected to significantly increase its number of MEPs. This prediction comes despite the group’s recent decision to expell the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which has been plagued by numerous scandals in recent months. The expulsion was driven by Le Pen, as the French politician could no longer tolerate the radical statements and controversies surrounding leading AfD politicians. ‘A movement that has fallen under the sway of its most radical fringe no longer seems to me to be a reliable and suitable ally,’ Le Pen told Le Monde.

After the break-up, the number of projected seats for ID has decreased significantly, from 88 to 66. However, together with the ECR, which is projected to have 71 seats, they may have more seats than the Socialists and Democrats (S&D). It is important to note that

this is only true if we include Fidesz,

which is currently not a member of any European Parliament political group but is expected to join a right-wing faction after the elections. This would make them the second-largest political group in the European Parliament after June. If we also include the European People’s Party (EPP) — which, to put it mildly, has strayed from its right-wing and conservative roots in recent years — a clear right-wing majority could emerge in the new European Parliament, even if only on certain issues and bills.

Meloni immediately responded to Le Pen’s proposal, stating in an interview with Rai TV that she had no red lines regarding potential allies, noting that she herself had been labelled ‘unpresentable’ by his political opponents for a lifetime, just as the progressive side has done with Le Pen and ID. She added: ‘My main objective is to build an alternative majority to the one that has governed in recent years. A centre-right majority, in other words, which will send the left into opposition in Europe.’

However, the two groups differ in many ways, particularly regarding foreign policy. The ECR parties, for example, have a more Atlanticist stance and are fully committed to supporting Ukraine by almost any means, while the ID parties are not.

What is clear, however, is that both political groups prioritize national sovereignty and a strong nation-state over the federalist vision of a ‘United States of Europe’. For both ECR and ID, freedom is important, particularly freedom of expression, which has recently come under attack from the left. Most importantly, all right-wing groups aim to roll back leftist legislation that they believe has been out of touch with reality in recent years, such as the new Green Deal or the regulations on European farmers.

Besides Meloni, another key figure in the ECR supporting the alliance is former Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki. His party, Law and Justice (PiS), has strengthened its position following last October’s electoral ‘defeat’ and is approaching the European Parliament elections with confidence after the successful spring municipal elections. Morawiecki has already called for the unification of European right-wing forces and has found an ally in Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

The parties have also held several discussions previously with Matteo Salvini, leader of the Italian Lega party (ID) regarding the issue.

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