BRUSSELS — 14 MEPs have submitted their candidacy to sit with the center-right European People’s Party grouping in the EU Parliament.
The EPP group is meeting between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Tuesday to vote on new members.
According to a document seen by POLITICO, 7 of the 14 applicants hail from the Tisza party led by Hungarian opposition leader Péter Magyar. Two from the Dutch Farmer-Citizen Movement known as BBB, two from the Czech Mayors and Independents party known as STAN, one from the Danish Liberal Alliance, one from the Dutch New Social Contract party and one from the German Family Party.
BBB and NSC are forming a coalition government with far-right Geert Wilders in the Netherlands. EPP leader Manfred Weber has said any politicians wishing to join the group must be pro-EU, pro-Ukraine and in favor of the rule of law.
The EPP’s projected seat number already includes all of the 14 MEPs, so if they are all taken in it will remain at 190 seats, by far the largest grouping. An EPP insider said that members will vote on the 14 MEPs as a single package.
Magyar has asked his supporters to vote on whether he should take up his seat in Brussels and is expected to announce his decision later Tuesday. If he does not, then Csaba Bogdán, next on Tisza’s list, would take the MEP seat instead.
Those wanting to join the EPP group must subscribe to its political program and internal rules.
Hanne Cokelaere contributed reporting.
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