Far-right Alliance Forms 'Patriots for Europe'

A new far-right alliance, 'Patriots for Europe,' led by Marine Le Pen and Viktor Orbán, has become the third-largest political group in the European Parliament with 84 MEPs from 12 countries. This coalition surpasses the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) and Renew Europe (RE) in voting strength, trailing only the European People’s Party (EPP) and the Socialists & Democrats (SD). The group, which succeeds the Identity and Democracy (ID) faction, aims to shift power from Brussels to national governments and curtail immigration. Jordan Bardella of France's National Rally will lead the group, with Kinga Gál of Hungary's Fidesz as vice president. The coalition includes parties from Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain, among others, signaling a significant move to the right in the EU Parliament.