Far-right MEPs form new group

Far-right MEPs this week (10 January) announced the formation of a new political group in the European Parliament founded on the principles of recognising national interest and identity, Christian values and family tradition.

Rejecting the far-right tag, Bruno Gollnisch, French National Front MEP and president of the group, Identity, Tradition, Sovereignty, said that accusations, including criminal charges, against members of the group over racist and anti-Semitic statements "doesn’t make them true". He said the group consisted of company directors, university teachers, public financial officials and a geologist. "You don’t see any hooligans here," he added.

But there was some confusion over whether the party would pass the threshold of 20 MEPs from six countries to qualify for recognition and funding. Although 20 names were listed as having signed up to the party, there was doubt over one name put forward. The office of Ashley Mote, an Independent British MEP, confirmed that while he was in negotiations with the group he had given no verbal or written commitment to join.

The signatures from 20 members must be submitted by Monday at 6pm if the party is to be allotted speaking time in parliament and allowed to attend the conference of presidents, according to a Parliament spokesman. The group would be eligible for around €1 million from the Parliament, an official said.

Apart from Mote, the group would be formed from seven MEPs from the French National Front, five from the Greater Romania Party, three from Belgium’s Vlaams Belang, two Italians, one Austrian and one Bulgarian.

Far-right MEPs this week (10 January) announced the formation of a new political group in the European Parliament founded on the principles of recognising national interest and identity, Christian values and family tradition.