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]
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
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
9th European Parliament
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.
^"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.
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