Identity and Democracy, new far-right political EP formation uniting Le Pen, Salvini and anti-immigration parties announced
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Marine Le Pen and Matteo Salvini’s MEPs have joined forces with anti-immigration parties across Europe to create the biggest far-right group in the European parliament.
Known as Identity and Democracy (ID), the group will be the fifth largest grouping, and in a way, its influence over EU lawmaking looks doubtful.
While the far right now has 10% of MEPs in the new European parliament, compared with 5% in the 2014-19 session, other parties are not expected to vote far-right MEPs into influential positions.
Identity and Democracy will be led by Marco Zanni, an MEP from Italy’s League party, which enjoyed stunning success in the European elections in Italy. The League is led by Salvini, who is also Italy’s deputy prime minister and the interior minister.
The ID group failed to convince Nigel Farage and his Brexit party to join.
Zanni, who met Farage earlier this month, said the door remained open to the Brexit party and others, such as Spain’s Vox. “We were unable to create a united group for a number of reasons with the Brexit party,” he told journalists at a launch press conference. “It’s not a defeat, it’s a very open relationship, we are open to them if they want to cooperate.” He said it was important for all parties with a “radically different view of Europe” to join forces.
