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Identity and Democracy

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This article is about the European Parliament group. For the political party of the same name, see Identity and Democracy Party.

European Parliament group
English abbr.ID
Formal nameIdentity and Democracy Group
Ideology
Political positionFar-right[10]
European partiesIdentity and Democracy Party
From13 June 2019
To8 July 2024
Preceded byEurope of Nations and Freedom
Succeeded byPatriots for Europe (majority)
Europe of Sovereign Nations (minority)
Chaired byMarco Zanni
Websitewww.idgroup.eu

Identity and Democracy (French: Identité et démocratie, ID) was a far-right[4][5][6][7][8][9] political group of the European Parliament, launched on 13 June 2019 for the Ninth European Parliament term. It comprised far right, right-wing populist, Eurosceptic and nationalist national parties from six European states.[1] It was the successor to the Europe of Nations and Freedom group formed during the eighth term and almost all of its members merged into the Patriots for Europe group formed during the tenth term.

History

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2019 European Parliament elections

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In April 2019, the Danish People's Party and the Finns Party (at the time members of the European Conservatives and Reformists) announced their intention to form a new grouping with Alternative for Germany, formerly of the ECR, ENF and EFDD groups, and Italy's League following the 2019 elections.[11] AfD spokesman Jörg Meuthen appeared alongside Northern League leader Matteo Salvini to formally announce the formation of the new European political alliance with the Finns Party and Danish People's Party which was provisionally named European Alliance for People and Nations.[12]

On 12 June 2019, it was announced that the group would be named "Identity and Democracy" (ID), include Italy's League (LSP), the French National Rally (RN) and Alternative for Germany as member parties, and be a successor to the Europe of Nations and Freedom (ENF).[13] The Finns Party also joined the group.[14] Lega MEP Marco Zanni was announced as the new group's chairman.[15] The group, composed at that time of 73 MEPs, was launched in Brussels by RN leader Marine Le Pen on 13 June 2019. It was expanded to include former ENF members Vlaams Belang and the Freedom Party of Austria, as well the new Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) party from the Czech Republic and the Conservative People's Party of Estonia (EKRE).[6][5]

The Dutch Party for Freedom (PVV) failed to secure any seats at the election; however, it gained one in the post-Brexit apportionment of seats. Before Brexit occurred, Party leader Geert Wilders stated his intention to align the PVV with ID, provided that the post-Brexit apportionment was confirmed by the European Council.[16][17] PVV MEP Marcel de Graaff subsequently took the seat, but in 2022 defected to the Forum for Democracy, citing his support for the FvD's policies against the COVID-19 vaccine. The FvD accordingly changed its affiliation from the ECR group to Identity and Democracy.

In 2023, the FvD was suspended from the group after de Graaf shared messages on Twitter supportive of Putin following the Russian invasion of Ukraine and later quit the group citing difference in views on the matter.[18][19]

Although political commentators have noted the group contains members who have called for Europe to open up relations with Putin's government, the group has taken a pro-Ukraine stance and voted in support of a motion in the European Parliament to condemn "Russian aggression against Ukraine" following the Russian invasion of the country.[20]

In April 2023, the Finns Party changed membership to the European Conservatives and Reformists group citing their change in policy to support NATO membership as the reason for the move.[21]

2024 European Parliament elections

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Ahead of the 2024 European Parliament election, AfD lead candidate Maximilian Krah made controversial statements on the Waffen-SS in an interview which was met with anger within the group.[22] In response, National Rally spokespeople Jordan Bardella and Caroline Parmentier announced they would part ways with Alternative for Germany after the election and not include the AfD in the group due to Krah's remarks and allegations of Chinese espionage influence on the party.[23][24] The League's leader Matteo Salvini and the Czech Freedom and Direct Democracy subsequently backed the position taken by the National Rally, with both parties saying they would terminate collaboration with the AfD after the election.[25][26] Vlaams Belang criticized Krah's statements with VB MEP Gerolf Annemans calling Krah "increasingly problematic" but declined to immediately expel and cut cooperation with AfD, instead arguing that they would wait until after the election before making a decision.[27] The Danish People's Party issued an ultimatum that the AfD could only remain in the ID group on the condition of Krah's expulsion with MEP Anders Vistisen stating that the AfD should purge extremist elements if the two parties were to keep working together.[28] The Portuguese Chega, a member of the ID Party, described the RN’s decision as a “game changer” and suggested it would now consider joining the European Conservatives and Reformists group or a new merged European Parliament group.[29] The Estonian EKRE and the Austrian FPÖ supported removing Krah but opposed the expulsion of the entire AfD faction. After an internal meeting and vote, the Identity and Democracy board subsequently voted in favour of ejecting the AfD, with group leader Marco Zanni citing Krah's interview, as well as reports of Chinese and Russian influence on the AfD. The AfD consequently moved to non-inscrits.[30][31] Following the decision, the AfD said that Krah would not be permitted to sit with the AfD faction in the European Parliament after the election and that they would negotiate to rejoin Identity and Democracy.[32] However, AfD failed in a bid to rejoin, with ID leaders making the decision not to re-admit the party.[33]

On 28 June, Freedom and Direct Democracy announced it would leave the group to form a new group called "Europe of Sovereign Nations", citing disagreements with other ID members on the European Green Deal, immigration, censorship and Ukraine.[34] This new group is described as being led by the AfD.[35]

On 30 June, the Freedom Party of Austria also announced it would leave ID to form a new group called "Patriots for Europe", alongside Fidesz and ANO 2011.[36] Shortly after, Chega, a member of the ID Party, also announced it would join "Patriots for Europe" instead of the ID group.[37] The Dutch Party for Freedom's leader, Geert Wilders, also announced his party would join the new group,[38] followed by the Danish People's Party and Vlaams Belang, which both said they would also join.[39][40] The League stated that it was strongly considering joining,[41] while the National Rally entered "advanced talks" to discuss joining.[42]

On 8 July 2024, the League and the National Rally also left the group to join Patriots for Europe.[43]

Ideology

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The group lists its core priorities as protecting European cultural heritage and the sovereignty of European nations, creating jobs and growth, increasing security, stopping illegal immigration, regulating legal immigration, fighting EU bureaucracy and preventing what it describes as the potential Islamisation of Europe. Identity and Democracy also opposes the possible accession of Turkey to the European Union.[44] The group calls for a Europe based on cooperation and further reforms of the EU through "more transparency and accountability" at Brussels, but rejects any further evolution towards a European Superstate.[45] Political commentators have variously described Identity and Democracy as nationalist, right-wing populist, anti-immigrant,[1] and Eurosceptic, although the group emphasises itself as sovereigntist as opposed to "anti-European".[2]

MEPs

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9th European Parliament

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Identity and Democracy has MEPs in 7 member states. Dark blue indicates member states sending multiple MEPs, light blue indicates member states sending a single MEP.
Main article: List of members of the European Parliament (2019–2024)
State National party European party MEPs[46]
 Austria Freedom Party of Austria
Freiheitliche Partei Österreichs (FPÖ) 		ID Party
3 / 19
 Belgium Flemish Interest
Vlaams Belang (VB) 		ID Party
3 / 21
 Czech Republic Freedom and Direct Democracy
Svoboda a přímá demokracie (SPD) 		ID Party
1 / 21
 Denmark Danish People's Party
Dansk Folkeparti (DF) 		None
1 / 14
 Estonia Conservative People's Party of Estonia
Eesti Konservatiivne Rahvaerakond (EKRE) 		ID Party
1 / 7
 France National Rally
Rassemblement national (RN) 		ID Party
18 / 79
 Italy League
Lega 		ID Party
22 / 76
 European Union Total
49 / 705

Former members

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State National party European party New group MEPs[46]
 Finland Finns Party
Perussuomalaiset 		None ECR
2 / 14
 Germany Alternative for Germany
Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) 		ID Party NI
9 / 96
 Netherlands Forum for Democracy
Forum voor Democratie (FvD) 		None NI
1 / 29

Organization

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President

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President Took office Left office Country
(Constituency) 		Party
Marco Zanni 2 July
2019 		8 July
2024 		 Italy
(North-West)
Lega

Bureau

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Group bureau during the 9th European Parliament.[47]

Position Name Country Party
President Marco Zanni Italy Lega
Vice-President Jordan Bardella France National Rally

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Nationalism in the EU has a new name: 'Identity and Democracy'". Euronews. 13 June 2019.
  2. ^ a b "Identity and Democracy Group: United on the Outside, Divided on the Inside? – Le portail de référence pour l'espace de liberté, sécurité et justice". 28 June 2019.
  3. ^ "Far-right Generation Identity leaders jailed for Alpine stunt". Al Jazeera. 30 August 2019. The far-right grouping in the newly elected European Parliament has taken the name Identity and Democracy, in a sign of the growing influence of "identitarian" supremacist politics.
  4. ^ a b
  5. ^ a b c Cook, Lorne (13 June 2019). "Europe's populists rebrand but policies remain the same". Associated Press.
  6. ^ a b c "France's Le Pen unveils new far-right European Parliament group". Reuters. 13 June 2019.
  7. ^ a b "EU's far-right parties expel Germany's AfD from their group". The Guardian. 23 May 2024.
  8. ^ a b "European Parliament's far-right group expels Germany's AfD after SS remark". Reuters. 23 May 2024.
  9. ^ a b "What to expect from a more right-wing European Parliament". Politico. 23 May 2024. Members of the far-right Identity and Democracy Group have said no to more defense integration
  10. ^ [4][5][6][7][8][9]
  11. ^ "EU's nationalist parties announce plans to join forces after May vote". Saudi Gazette. 8 April 2019.
  12. ^ "Germany's AfD joins Italy's League in new populist coalition". Deutsche Welle. 8 April 2019.
  13. ^ Weise, Zia (12 June 2019). "Salvini alliance to be named Identity and Democracy". Politico.
  14. ^ Nikolaj Nielsen (13 June 2019). "New 'ID' far-right EU parliament group falls short". EUobserver. Retrieved 13 June 2019.
  15. ^ Alfie Tobutt (13 June 2019). "Marine Le Pen to unveil new far-right alliance in European Parliament". Euronews. Retrieved 13 June 2019.
  16. ^ Morgan, Sam (31 May 2019). "Post-Brexit Parliament: Winners and losers". Euractiv.
  17. ^ "Europe's far-right politicians join forces to fight for more power". The Independent. 18 May 2019.
  18. ^ "Dutch MEP quits far-right group after suspension over 'Go, Putin!' stance". Euronews. 8 April 2023.
  19. ^ "Baudet banned from speaking in parliament, again states support for Putin". DutchNews. 8 April 2023.
  20. ^ "ID Group Press Release- Ukraine". Euronews. 8 April 2023.
  21. ^ "Far-right Finns Party moves to ECR group in EU Parliament". Politico. 8 April 2023.
  22. ^ Schuetze, Christopher F. (23 May 2024). "Far-Right E.U. Lawmakers Remove Germany's AfD Party Before Elections". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
  23. ^ "France's National Rally won't sit with Alternative for Germany in EU Parliament". Politico. 21 May 2024.
  24. ^ "French Far Right Splits With Germany's AfD In EU Parliament". Politico. 21 May 2024.
  25. ^ ""Mai più con Afd non condanna le SS". Salvini e Le Pen spaccano i sovranisti". la Repubblica (in Italian). 21 May 2024. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  26. ^ "Czech far-right splits with AfD, follows le Pen". 22 May 2024.
  27. ^ "Vlaams Belang wil AfD niet direct uit Europese fractie zetten na SS-uitspraken". Business AM (in Flemish). 22 May 2024. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  28. ^ "Vistisen med ultimatum til AfD: Smid spidskandidat ud eller forlad gruppen". Kristeligt Dagblad (in Danish). Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  29. ^ "Pode um SS não ser criminoso? Tânger admite saída do Chega de grupo europeu, depois de Le Pen cortar com alemães da AfD". Expresso (in Portuguese). 22 May 2024. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  30. ^ "Far-right ID group expels Alternative for Germany". POLITICO. 23 May 2024. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  31. ^ krone.at (23 May 2024). "Riesen-Eklat in Brüssel: AfD fliegt aus Fraktion". Kronen Zeitung (in German). Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  32. ^ "AfD's EU delegation shaken up following election results". euronews. 10 June 2024. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  33. ^ https://www.malaymail.com/news/world/2024/06/13/germanys-afd-confident-about-finding-new-eu-partners/139661 [bare URL]
  34. ^ "Hnutí SPD bude v EP součástí nové frakce Evropa suverénních národů". Aktualne.cz. 28 June 2024.
  35. ^ ""Že jsou označováni za nácky? Mně jsou blízcí." SPD v europarlamentu míří do frakce vedené AfD". Hospodárske noviny. 28 June 2024.
  36. ^ ""Patriots for Europe": FPÖ, Fidesz und ANO bilden neue Fraktion im Europaparlament". Freilich. 30 June 2024.
  37. ^ https://x.com/zoltanspox/status/1807754833362899185 [bare URL]
  38. ^ "x.com". Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  39. ^ "Dansk Folkeparti slutter sig til Orbán og hans nye allierede i Europa-Parlamentet". DR. 6 July 2024. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  40. ^ "x.com". Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  41. ^ "Orban's alliance of 'patriots' seems way to go - Salvini - Politics - Ansa.it". July 2024.
  42. ^ "Le Pen May Ditch Her EU Parliament Group in Far-Right Shakeup". Bloomberg. 2 July 2024. Officials from Marine Le Pen's movement are in advanced talks with other far-right groups in the European Parliament that could see her party abandon its current political family to join forces with Hungary's Viktor Orban.
  43. ^ "Patrioti per l'Europa si allarga: Orban con Lega e Le Pen a 82 seggi/ ID non ha più numeri per il Parlamento". www.ilsussidiario.net (in Italian). 7 July 2024. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
  44. ^ "Parliament group priorities: Identity and Democracy". www.europarl.europa.eu (Press release). 19 August 2019.
  45. ^ https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/kantodev/pages/102/attachments/original/1582196570/EN_Statutes_of_the_ID_Group.pdf?1582196570 [bare URL PDF]
  46. ^ a b "MEPs by Member State and political group". www.europarl.europa.eu. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
  47. ^ "About ID Group". ID Group. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
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