BRUSSELS — Center-left lawmakers in the European Parliament are plotting to counter the rise of the far right by advising members to be “more assertive,” to ridicule the extremists and to “drive a wedge” between the them and the European People’s Party, according to internal plans obtained by POLITICO.
“We should identify and leverage all those issues which can drive a wedge between the extreme right and the EPP,” the Socialists and Democrats’ document reads, referring primarily to the Patriots for Europe and Europe of Sovereign Nations groups.
In recent months the EPP has infuriated centrist and center-left groups by joining forces with right-wing and far-right parties to dilute anti-deforestation rules — a key element of the European Green Deal.
A new right-leaning political power balance — evident in several votes since last year’s European election — is likely to assert its dominance when new legislation is proposed by the European Commission. The new political landscape allows the EPP to build majorities without the Socialists.
Manfred Weber’s center-right EPP “must know there will be consequences to looking both ways,” the document states, but cautions against being “overly aggressive” to avoid alienating “more mainstream” voices in the EPP.
As for collaboration with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s right-wing European Conservatives and Reformists group, this should be decided on a “case-by-case” basis, the S&D’s guidance said.
One S&D MEP, granted anonymity to speak about the plans, said: “While Europe is collapsing, [the] S&D keeps [playing] its sandbox-level games.”
Meanwhile, the far-right Patriots for Europe group, led by National Rally star Jordan Bardella of France, is taking a far more hands-on approach to EU policymaking in Brussels than its predecessor, Identity and Democracy. It is also openly courting and taunting the EPP at every opportunity, baiting the center right into joining forces.
The S&D plans were not new but had been discussed at a meeting of senior members of the European Parliament in Genval, Belgium earlier this month, a group spokesperson said.
The document also floats translating a toothless agreement among the Socialists, EPP, Greens and liberals into “implementing measures” that could create more stable coalitions, insisting S&D members should work closely with the liberals and The Greens.
Meanwhile, the European Parliament’s centrist Renew group — a former kingmaker but now only the Parliament’s fifth-largest force — has also laid out internal guidance on when it’s “acceptable” to collaborate with lawmakers on the extreme left and right, as reported by POLITICO.
The Patriots for Europe and Europe of Sovereign Nations groups are generally considered beyond the pale, while some members of The Left and the ECR are judged “acceptable.”
A final version of the Renew plan is being discussed by the group’s leadership.
“As a principle, Renew members could agree to positions by certain ECR and [The Left] delegations when it does not run counter to upholding our values and priorities and is strategically necessary,” the document reads.
Max Griera contributed reporting to this story.
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