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This article has been translated by Artificial Intelligence (AI). The news agency is not responsible for the content of the translated article. The original was published by Belga.

Flemish Interest chooses Orbán’s Patriots for Europe

by AI | 06.Jul 2024 | Europe in brief AI

Vlaams Belang, which emerged as the largest party from the European elections on June 9, chooses the new Patriots for Europe alliance of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. It is possible that Marine Le Pen’s National Rally will also join.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban at a European summit. - Photo: Miguel Medina/AFP

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Brussels – The Vlaams Belang wants to join Patriots for Europe, the new political group founded by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. The party announced this on Saturday.

In the European elections, no Belgian party received more votes than Vlaams Belang, giving the party three seats in the European Parliament. Vlaams Belang was previously a member of the far-right ID (Identity & Democracy) faction but is now switching to the new Patriots for Europe. “As right-wing, patriotic, and nationalist parties, we are strong together in Europe,” says chairman Tom Van Grieken. “We have more in common than what divides us.”

Besides Orbán’s Fidesz party, ANO, the party of the former Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, was also involved in the founding of Patriots for Europe, as well as the Austrian FPÖ. On Friday, the Dutch PVV of Geert Wilders also announced it would join.

The new alliance seems to have convinced enough parties and parliament members to join, so they can officially form a faction. The French Rassemblement National might also join.

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