Europe’s socialists and democrats will never accept any alliance with ECR. That would break-up the pro-European forces in the European Parliament and radically change Europe’s future direction, the Party of European Socialists (PES) warns today.
President of the PES, Stefan Löfven, said:
“The far-right, regardless of whether they sit in ECR or ID in the Parliament, is not part of the pro-European majority. It is impossible to cherry pick parties from these groups. We saw that clearly at the Vox-organised conference in Madid, where Giorgia Meloni, Marine Le Pen, Santiago Abasca and many others happily sat together.
“I want voters to know: we will never open up any alliance with ECR. We will not be the ones to break the pro-European alliance in the Parliament. This message was delivered last night by Nicolas Schmit. We are grateful for his words, and we thank him for standing up for European values.”
Speaking yesterday at the Eurovision Debate organised in the European Parliament, EPP candidate for President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen confirmed that she would cooperate with Giorgia Meloni’s far-right Fratelli d’Italia party.
Earlier this month, PES member parties signed a common declaration – the Berlin Declaration – pledging not to form a coalition with the far-right. Days later, pro-European Groups in the European Parliament – the S&D, Renew, the Greens and the Left – signed a common declaration also ruling out cooperation with the far-right.
