Make Europe Great Again in Madrid

Leaders of the Patriots Eurogroup, the third-largest bloc in the European Parliament with 86 MEPs, are meeting under the slogan MEGA (Make Europe Great Again)—a phrase inspired by Donald Trump’s MAGA and reportedly coined with the backing of billionaire Elon Musk. The focus of the gathering is on strategies to “resist the European establishment,” namely the dominant European People’s Party and European Socialists.

Musk, a known Trump ally and outspoken supporter of Europe’s far-right, has given his endorsement to the summit. His growing influence in European politics has already been evident through his vocal backing of Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), which is projected to finish second in the country’s upcoming parliamentary elections.

According to El País, today’s event is hosted by Santiago Abascal, leader of Spain’s far-right Vox party. The keynote speech will be delivered by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, with additional addresses expected from leaders of far-right nationalist parties in the Czech Republic, Estonia, Poland, and Greece. Greece will be represented by MEP Afroditi Latinopoulou of Voice of Reason.

Also scheduled to speak are Dutch politician Geert Wilders, leader of the far-right Freedom Party (PVV), which won the 2023 elections and is now part of a ruling coalition, and Matteo Salvini, Italy’s deputy prime minister and head of the hard-right Lega party.

Meloni’s Absence Highlights a Rift

Salvini’s participation underscores growing tensions between Vox and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Once a staunch ally of Vox, Meloni distanced herself last December by excluding the Spanish party from her youth movement’s events in Italy. Unlike other far-right leaders, Meloni is positioning herself as a mainstream conservative force within the EU, balancing good relations with both Trump and Musk.

Notably, Meloni was the only European leader to attend Trump’s 2017 inauguration. The Patriots delegation at the time also engaged with members of the ultra-conservative Heritage Foundation in Washington. Last night, the Heritage Foundation, a key player in shaping Trump’s policy agenda, hosted a private dinner in Madrid for the Patriots’ leadership.

Salvini, a strong Musk supporter, has even pushed for Musk’s Starlink satellites to provide full coverage of Italy—an initiative fiercely opposed by the Italian opposition.

The Patriots and Their Ties to Musk

The Patriots have actively courted Musk’s favor in the European Parliament. Last September, they nominated him for the EU’s prestigious Sakharov Prize for Human Rights and Freedom of Thought—though the award ultimately went to opposition leaders in Venezuela. More recently, in January, they invited Musk to deliver a speech in the European Parliament on freedom of expression.

The Patriots Eurogroup was formed after the 2024 European elections, uniting parties that previously belonged to the Identity and Democracy (ID) group. Collectively, they secured over 19 million votes in last June’s elections. The group’s leader in the European Parliament is Jordan Bardella, an MEP from Marine Le Pen’s National Rally, which contributes the largest share of MEPs (30) to the far-right alliance.

Trump’s Influence on European Far-Right Politics

Trump’s ability to swiftly implement policies has deeply impressed Patriots leaders. Bardella, for example, has praised Trump’s rapid deportation of Colombian migrants. However, despite their admiration, European far-right leaders remain wary of Trump’s economic nationalism. Bardella has warned that Trump’s potential tariffs on French products could devastate French farmers—a key voting bloc for his party—highlighting the complex relationship between Trump’s policies and the interests of Europe’s far-right.

Source: tovima.com