The European elections last June gave the key to the European People’s Party. The People’s Party was the big winner of these elections in which, beyond obtaining a dozen additional seats, it acquired a sort of “swing power” to tip the balance. Ursula von der Leyen made it clear on election night that she would rely on the traditional majority with the socialists and the liberals, but the EPP can obtain an alternative majority by relying on the forces of the extreme right. The liberals had the ability to play on both sides last season, but Europe has moved to the right.
The European PP took advantage of this variable geometry for the first time this legislature this Thursday when voting on a resolution on Venezuela in which it relied on ultra groups such as Marine Le Pen’s National Group, Vox and even the philanthropist. The Nazis of Alternative for Germany must proceed with the recognition of Edmundo González as the “legitimate” president of Venezuela.
The right of the European Parliament has therefore had its first consequence in a symbolic vote, which has no legal effect since the Parliament has no competence in the matter, which corresponds to the Member States. But at the same time, it is a delicate issue from a diplomatic point of view, especially in countries like Spain, where it is also used as a throwing weapon.
The EPP has therefore chosen to rely on the most extreme forces in Europe to achieve victory by obtaining the recognition of Edmundo González, in accordance with what the Congress approved. In this case, the PNV approved the initiative, while in the European Parliament it did not take this step and advocated a formulation similar to what the EU has said so far on this issue. “Edmundo González appears to be the winner of the presidential elections with a large majority, according to the results of the vote made public so far,” states the text defended by the liberals.
PPE breaks the sanitary cordon
The popular party put the recognition of Edmundo González as a red line and, faced with the refusal of the socialists and liberals, they broke off the negotiations and began negotiations with the far-right forces. The EPP signed a joint resolution with the Reformists and Conservatives (ECR), which includes Giorgia Meloni’s Fratelli d’Italia and the Polish ultranationalists of Law and Justice, and with the Patriots for Europe, which shelters Viktor Orbán from Marine Le Stylo through Vox (whose MEP Hermann Tertsch is the one who signed).
The EPP has thus bypassed the cordon sanitaire that the European Parliament imposes on the Patriots for Europe (ECR is not excluded by the popular and the liberals) and has used for the first time its capacity to constitute an alternative majority, even if it is with the largest majority of ultras on the continent. The Popular Party defended the exclusion of the Patriots for Europe in the distribution of positions in the European Parliament, such as the vice-presidencies and in the composition of parliamentary committees. “We do not want these MEPs to represent the European Parliament,” they declared.
Thus, the spokesperson of Vox, Jorge Buxadé, took the floor to demonstrate this collaboration between the ultras and the European PP: “[La resolución] Not only does he have our support and signature, but this political group [Patriotas] “He played a substantial role in drafting the best text in defense of freedom and the rule of law in Venezuela.”
The liberals of Renew Europe chose not to participate in the vote in protest. “Patriotas does not take into account the interests of the Venezuelan opposition. Renew Europe will not participate in this far-right approach,” they announced in a statement illustrated with the face of the candidate and MEP of the National Rally, Jordan Bardella, with a “Never!” written in capital letters on a red background. Only Lithuanian MEP Dainius Žalimas participated by voting in favor.
“We would have liked that, like the Platform against Nicolas Maduro, there was also a dialogue here in the European Parliament and that an attempt was made to reach a common resolution with the political parties that have given centrality and stability to the European political project, avoiding partisanship and alignment with the extreme right, but this has not been the case,” said PNV MEP Oihane Agirregoitia.
“The EPP has decided to build an agreement on Venezuela with Meloni, Orban and Le Pen, and with the support of the German far right, instead of doing so with the pro-European parties,” criticised socialist MEP Javi López.
Thursday’s victory has no effect beyond the symbolic, but it has allowed the EPP to demonstrate that it has the upper hand in this legislature, even if it is thanks to the extreme right.
