European social democrats warned von der Leyen that they would invalidate her coalition if she struck a deal with the extremists. European elections news

European social democrats warned German conservative Ursula von der Leyen: if she compromises with the extreme right after the European Parliament elections on 9 June, they will not invalidate the great coalition between the socialists and the populists that has created the political structure. Has been maintained. of the European Union for 70 years. The agreement, following major elections and the configuration of the most polarized and right-wing European Parliament in its history, could represent a major earthquake. And von der Leyen herself, the main candidate of the European People’s Party (EPP) to continue leading the European Commission, has revealed. He has already made clear what his gestures and speeches have been indicating for many months: that for him not all the extreme right are the same and that he is willing to reach a compromise with the European Reformists and Conservatives (ECR) . That group includes Vox’s Eurosceptics; To the extremists of Italy’s Brothers – the party of Giorgia Meloni, whom he has been courting since coming to power; Or Reconquista, by the Frenchman Eric Zemmour, one of the great spreaders of the Great Replacement conspiracy theory.

European Socialist Party President Stefan Lofven spoke out bluntly this Tuesday, following von der Leyen’s statements in a political debate on Monday night. “Values ​​and rights cannot be compromised on the basis of the next parliament,” the former Swedish prime minister said. “Either you want to deal with the extreme right or you don’t. As progressives, we can say firmly: There is no coalition with Identity and Democracy (ID) or ECR in the European Parliament, Löfven concluded in a message to the network. Nicolas Schmidt, European Commissioner for Social Rights and leading candidate (spitzenkandidat) to lead the Socialists and Democrats (S&D) Commission, he had already noted in an interview with this newspaper in March. “No compromise is possible with the extreme right or those who defend it,” he said.

Von der Leyen’s gesture could thus complicate support not only for the Social Democrats in the European Parliament, but also for leaders like Pedro Sánchez, with whom she has excellent rapport. The heads of twenty-seven states will elect him as a preliminary step in the distribution of key positions after the elections. After this the European Parliament will have to confirm the appointment. The Spaniard is one of the European leaders who has warned most about the effects of the rise of the extreme right on citizens’ rights and the health of European democracy.

Von der Leyen, for whom things are becoming more complicated to revalidate her mandate but who remains a favorite of the official candidates, is preparing her own circle. The German Christian Democrat had already said in her nomination speech at the European People’s Congress in Bucharest in March that she was ready to agree with the German option or the national regroupment of Frenchwoman Marine Le Pen. These forces, which he calls “Putin’s friends”, are part of the ID group in the European Parliament. However, the head of the Community Executive is open to doing so – now apparently – with other parties that have not shown closeness to Russia – or that have forgotten the matter – such as the Brothers of Italy.

Meloni’s Ultra party, which is also heading towards the European elections with a hint of huge symbolism, governs in coalition with Forza Italia (from the EPP family) and the League, led by Matteo Salvini, a politician who no longer comes forward. Russian issue But until recently he wore T-shirts with Vladimir Putin’s face on them. The Italian prime minister is also chair of the European ECR group, which von der Leyen is leading. Von der Leyen’s political family, the Popular Europeans, already liked Meloni – originally it was Forza Italia, Silvio Berlusconi’s party that paved the way for his arrival in the Italian government – ​​as they did with Czech Kristian Fiala. Has done with the party.

For Iratex García, leader of the Socialists and Democrats (S&D) in the European Parliament, this hypothetical coalition of von der Leyen with the ECR after the European elections in June is no way out. “Europe needs to stop those who want to destroy our democracy,” he said this Tuesday in the middle of the first election debate, which revealed few messages apart from von der Leyen’s opening up to the far right.

German conservatives, like the chairman of their first European family, Manfred Weber, who is to the right of them, draw their red lines on three elements: their hypothetical partners should be pro-Ukraine and European, support the rule of law and be pro-Ukrainian. Want – NATO. Von der Leyen does not toe the fine line: Vox has railed against the “Eurocrats of Brussels” and is a party that wants to impose limits on the right to abortion, in addition to speaking out against a key point of the Spanish Constitution. Like the state of autonomy. The Brothers of Italy have supported the anti-abortion movement through a law targeting those visiting health clinics that practice voluntary termination of pregnancy. Zemmour’s party, Reconquista, spreads the lie of the Great Replacement Theory which assures that there is a plan to replace European (and white) society.

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