Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has formed a new alliance with Austria’s far-right Freedom Party and the Czech Republic’s main opposition party, aiming to become the largest right-wing group in the European Parliament. The alliance, dubbed ‘Patriots for Europe,’ seeks to attract more members and challenge the current political landscape. Orbán, known for his opposition to EU policies, believes this alliance will represent the desires of Europeans for peace, order, and development.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s Eurosceptic party, Brothers of Italy (FdL), could become a kingmaker in the upcoming European Parliament elections, despite the right-wing’s lack of a majority projection. Meloni’s pro-European stance, in contrast to other far-right parties, has gained favor with EU President Ursula von der Leyen. If Meloni’s party wins seats, she could play a significant role in supporting or opposing von der Leyen’s bid for a second term. Meloni’s election campaign is primarily aimed at boosting her party’s presence in Italy and Europe, as she will be required to resign as a Member of European Parliament (MEP) if elected Prime Minister.
The European Union parliament elections commenced today, June 6th, with 27 countries participating. Approximately 373 million eligible voters will cast their ballots from June 6th to 9th. This marks a significant political event that will shape the leadership and direction of the European Union for the next five years.
Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, looks back on her time in office and discusses the upcoming EU elections. She highlights achievements such as the migration pact and electoral reforms, while also addressing recent corruption scandals involving MEPs. Metsola urges voters to participate in the elections to shape the future of Europe, emphasizing that elected officials directly impact everyday life with decisions on issues like climate change and social justice. She also emphasizes the importance of engaging with young people on social media platforms like TikTok to counter misinformation and encourage voter turnout.
In a significant move, the European Parliament has overwhelmingly passed a resolution condemning Iran for its attacks on Israel and affirming Europe’s commitment to Israel’s security. The resolution passed with 357 votes in favor and 20 against.
Slovak MEP Miroslav Radačovský, known for his pro-Putin stance, made a dramatic gesture in the European Parliament by releasing a dove during a plea for peace between Russia and Ukraine. The stunt drew mixed reactions, with some fellow MEPs expressing concern for the bird’s well-being and others mocking the gesture. The incident has sparked a debate about animal welfare in parliamentary proceedings.
Maximilian Krah, the lead candidate for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in the upcoming European elections, has vowed to remain in his position despite allegations of espionage by one of his aides. Jian G., a 47-year-old aide to Krah in the European Parliament, was arrested on Monday and charged with spying for Chinese intelligence. Following the arrest, the German Federal Prosecutor’s Office announced that G. was brought before an investigating judge and placed in pre-trial detention. The European Parliament also suspended G. with immediate effect. Krah has acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations but has denied any personal misconduct. He has stated that he will terminate G.’s employment and take a low profile at the start of the election campaign. Krah’s decision to remain as lead candidate has sparked controversy, with some members of the AfD expressing concerns about potential damage to the party’s reputation. Despite these concerns, Krah has stated that he is confident in his ability to lead the AfD and has dismissed any suggestion that he may step down.
An aide to a member of the European Parliament for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) has been arrested in Germany on suspicion of “especially severe” espionage for China. Prosecutors named the suspect as Jian G. and accused him of passing information about discussions in the European Union legislature to Chinese intelligence. This arrest is part of a broader trend of alleged Chinese spying in Western Europe, with recent cases in Britain, the US, and the Czech Republic.
Research presented in Brussels ahead of a European Parliament vote on air pollution guidance revealed that cities with low emissions zones have cleaner air than those without. The findings highlighted the effectiveness of such zones in reducing air pollutants such as black carbon, nitrogen dioxide, and particulate matter. Notably, more deprived neighborhoods benefited from a faster decrease in air pollution after implementing low-emission zones. However, concerns remain as a majority of Belgians are still exposed to air pollution levels exceeding World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines.
The European Parliament is reeling from fresh allegations of espionage, with members expressing shock and anger over the arrest of an assistant to an MEP accused of working for the Chinese secret service. This incident follows revelations of a separate scandal involving payments from a pro-Russian interference network to several lawmakers. The Parliament’s president is willing to waive immunity for those under suspicion but has called for more information from law enforcement. Amidst these allegations, members have called for an internal probe and condemned the alleged foreign interference.
