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The Party of European Socialists declared it would not work with far-right forces in the next European Parliament, a political declaration aimed at their conservative rivals, the European People’s Party (EPP), which has opened the door to some right-wing parties.
“I am here in Berlin, supported by socialist and social democratic leaders from across Europe, to say once again: No cooperation with the far-right,” the Socalists’ top candidate for the June election Nicolas Schmit said on Saturday.
In a debate hosted by POLITICO and Studio Europa Maastricht last week, the EPP’s top candidate Ursula von der Leyen, who is running for a second term as European Commission President, made clear that she would not work with the nationalist Identity and Democracy group, which includes the far-right Alternative for Germany party.
But she indicated she would be open to a deal with the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group, whose members include Italy’s right-wing Brothers of Italy and Poland’s nationalist Law and Justice party, which has tangled with Brussels over the rule of law.
The two groups are expected to increase their presence in the next European Parliament, according to POLITICO poll of polls.
In 2019, von der Leyen was appointed with the support of the EPP, the Socialists, the Greens and the liberal Renew Europe group. These parties have historically pledged to avoid working with what they describe as anti-European forces.
The declaration, which was also signed by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and former climate Commissioner Frans Timmermans, called for “all democratic European parties” to follow the Socialist’s example and “firmly reject any normalisation, cooperation or alliance with the far-right.”
“We expect them to include this formally and unequivocally in their election manifestos and party declarations,” it said.
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT ELECTION POLL OF POLLS
For more polling data from across Europe visit POLITICO Poll of Polls.
