Warfare between Eurosceptic camps: Le Pen v Farage

Open warfare brok out between two of Europe's leading Eurosceptics. Marine Le Pen, leader of France's National Front (FN), accused Nigel Farage of the UK Independence Party of "aggression" against her party, for labelling it racist.

Mr Farage had rejected ties with the FN for its "anti-Semitism and general prejudice".

The voting record of seven far-right and anti-EU parties represented in the outgoing European Parliament showed larger divisions than among centrist parties who grouped together, according to a study published on the 20 May 2014 by VoteWatch.

Mr. Farage suggested that Ukip might have enough of a "common front" with Marine Le Pen's French Front National to vote with the party and other Eurosceptic groups in order to block European legislation.

ESO: Background information: European Parliament: Election, May 2014 http://www.europeansources.info/record/european-parliament-election-may-2014/

ESO: Background information: The rise of Euroscepticism across Europe has masked general apathy about the European elections among voters http://www.europeansources.info/record/the-rise-of-euroscepticism-across-europe-has-masked-general-apathy-about-the-european-elections-among-voters/

ESO: Background information: European Parliament election, 2014 (United Kingdom) [UK and the European elections 2014] http://www.europeansources.info/record/european-parliament-election-2014-united-kingdom-uk-and-the-european-elections-2014/

ESO: Background information: European Parliament election, 2014 (France) [France and the European elections 2014] http://www.europeansources.info/record/european-parliament-election-2014-france-france-and-the-european-elections-2014/

EurActiv [Interview], 15.05.14: Researcher: Eurosceptic alliance bears inherent risk of collapse http://www.euractiv.com/sections/eu-elections-2014/researcher-eurosceptic-alliance-bears-inherent-risk-collapse-302138

VoteWatch: How often have Eurosceptic / far-right parties voted together in 2009 - 2014? [Report, May 2014] http://www.votewatch.eu/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/votewatch-europe-end-of-term-scorecard-part-3-far-right-parties-final.pdf

EUObserver, 20.05.14: EP voting behaviour shows divisions in far-right camp http://euobserver.com/eu-elections/124195

The Guardian, 21.05.14: Nigel Farage hints at 'common front' with Marine Le Pen to block EU laws http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/may/21/nigel-farage-common-front-marine-le-pen-block-european-laws

---