Patriots for Europe: Third-Largest Group in European Parliament, Hosts Summit in Madrid
The Patriots for Europe group, now the third-largest faction in the European Parliament with 86 seats, gathered in Madrid on Friday for a summit centered around the theme “Make Europe Great Again.” The event, hosted by Santiago Abascal, leader of the Spanish far-right party Vox, aims to develop strategies to challenge the more established groups in the Parliament, such as the center-right European People’s Party (EPP) and the social democratic Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats.
Founded in November 2024 when Santiago Abascal was elected as its leader in Paris, Patriots for Europe brings together numerous right-wing, populist, and far-right parties from 13 different EU countries. The group includes Hungary’s ruling Christian Democratic People’s Party, Italy’s Lega, Austria’s Freedom Party, and France’s National Rally, among others.
The summit’s focus will be on promoting alternatives to current European policies, with a particular emphasis on aligning with the vision of former U.S. President Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan. The participating parties see this as a way to reshape the European political landscape, asserting national sovereignty and challenging EU institutions they perceive as overreaching.
