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.