Identity and Democracy

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This article is about the European Parliament group. For the political party of the same name, see Identity and Democracy Party.
Identity and Democracy
European Parliament group
Identity and democracy logo.png
NameIdentity and Democracy
English abbr.ID
Formal nameIdentity and Democracy Group
IdeologyNationalism[1]
Right-wing populism[2]
Anti-immigration[1]
Euroscepticism[1]
Factions:
Identitarianism[3]
Political positionRight-wing[4][5][6] to far-right[7][8][9]
European partiesIdentity and Democracy Party
From13 June 2019
Preceded byEurope of Nations and Freedom
Chaired byMarco Zanni
MEP(s)
71 / 705
Websitewww.idgroup.eu

Identity and Democracy (French: Identité et démocratie, ID) is a right-wing[4][5][6] to far-right[7][8][9] political group of the European Parliament, launched on 13 June 2019 for the Ninth European Parliament term. It is composed of nationalist, right-wing populist and eurosceptic national parties from ten European nations. It is the successor to the Europe of Nations and Freedom group formed during the eighth term.

History[]

In April 2019, the Danish People's Party and the Finns Party (at the time members of the European Conservatives and Reformists) announced their intention to form a new grouping with Alternative for Germany, formerly of the ECR, ENF and EFDD groups, and Italy's League following the 2019 elections.[10] AfD spokesman Jörg Meuthen appeared alongside Northern League leader Matteo Salvini to formally announce the formation of the new European political alliance with the Finns Party and Danish People's Party which was provisionally named European Alliance for People and Nations.[11]

On 12 June 2019, it was announced that the group would be named "Identity and Democracy" (ID), and include Italy's Lega per Salvini Premier (LSP), the French National Rally (RN) and Alternative for Germany as member parties, and would be a successor to the Europe of Nations and Freedom (ENF).[12] The Finns Party is also a member of the group.[13] LN MEP Marco Zanni was announced as the new group's chairman.[14] The group, composed at that time of 73 MEPs, was launched in Brussels by RN leader Marine Le Pen on 13 June 2019. It was expanded to include former ENF members Vlaams Belang and the Freedom Party of Austria, as well the new Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) party from the Czech Republic and the Conservative People's Party of Estonia.[9][8]

The Dutch Party for Freedom (PVV) failed to secure any seats at the election; however, it gained one in the post-Brexit apportionment of seats. Party leader Geert Wilders has stated his intention, once Brexit happens, to align the PVV with ID, provided that the post-Brexit apportionment is confirmed by the European Council.[15][16]

Ideology[]

The group lists its core priorities as protecting European cultural heritage and the sovereignty of European nations, creating jobs and growth, increasing security, stopping illegal immigration, regulating legal immigration, fighting EU bureaucracy and preventing what it describes as the potential Islamisation of Europe. Identity and Democracy also opposes the possible accession of Turkey to the European Union.[17] The group calls for a Europe based on cooperation and further reforms of the EU through "more transparency and accountability" at Brussels, but rejects any further evolution towards a European Superstate.[18] Political commentators have variously described Identity and Democracy as nationalist, right-wing populist and eurosceptic, although the group emphasises itself as sovereigntist as opposed to "anti-European".[2]

Group members[]

Identity and Democracy has MEPs in 10 member states. Dark blue indicates member states sending multiple MEPs, light blue indicates member states sending a single MEP.

9th European Parliament[]

Country National party European party MEPs
 Austria Freedom Party of Austria
Freiheitliche Partei Österreichs (FPÖ) 		ID Party               
3 / 19
 Belgium Flemish Interest
Vlaams Belang (VB) 		ID Party               
3 / 21
 Czech Republic Freedom and Direct Democracy[19]
Svoboda a přímá demokracie (SPD) 		ID Party               
2 / 21
 Denmark Danish People's Party
Dansk Folkeparti (DF) 		None
1 / 14
 Estonia Conservative People's Party of Estonia
Eesti Konservatiivne Rahvaerakond (EKRE) 		ID Party               
1 / 7
 Finland Finns Party
Perussuomalaiset (PS) 		None
2 / 14
 France National Rally
Rassemblement national (RN) 		ID Party               
23 / 79
 Germany Alternative for Germany
Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) 		None
10 / 96
 Italy League
Lega 		ID Party               
25 / 76
 Netherlands Party for Freedom
Partij voor de Vrijheid (PVV) 		None
1 / 29
 European Union
Total
71 / 705

Leadership[]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Nationalism in the EU has a new name: 'Identity and Democracy'". Euronews. 13 June 2019.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b "Identity and Democracy Group: United on the Outside, Divided on the Inside? – Le portail de référence pour l'espace de liberté, sécurité et justice". 28 June 2019.
  3. ^ "Far-right Generation Identity leaders jailed for Alpine stunt". Al Jazeera. 30 August 2019. The far-right grouping in the newly elected European Parliament has taken the name Identity and Democracy, in a sign of the growing influence of "identitarian" supremacist politics.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b "Greta Thunberg rains on EU climate law parade". Politico. 3 May 2020.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b "The European Parliament after Brexit" (PDF). Clifford Chance. 1 January 2020. p. 1.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b "Germany's Altmaier encourages MEPs to be more realistic". Euractiv. 16 July 2020.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b c Cook, Lorne (13 June 2019). "Europe's populists rebrand but policies remain the same". Associated Press.
  9. ^ Jump up to: a b c "France's Le Pen unveils new far-right European Parliament group". Reuters. 13 June 2019.
  10. ^ "EU's nationalist parties announce plans to join forces after May vote". Saudi Gazette. 8 April 2019.
  11. ^ "Germany's AfD joins Italy's League in new populist coalition". Deutsche Welle. 8 April 2019.
  12. ^ Weise, Zia (12 June 2019). "Salvini alliance to be named Identity and Democracy". Politico.
  13. ^ Nikolaj Nielsen (13 June 2019). "New 'ID' far-right EU parliament group falls short". EUobserver. Retrieved 13 June 2019.
  14. ^ Alfie Tobutt (13 June 2019). "Marine Le Pen to unveil new far-right alliance in European Parliament". Euronews. Retrieved 13 June 2019.
  15. ^ Morgan, Sam (31 May 2019). "Post-Brexit Parliament: Winners and losers". Euractiv.
  16. ^ "Europe's far-right politicians join forces to fight for more power". The Independent. 18 May 2019.
  17. ^ "Parliament group priorities: Identity and Democracy". Europarl (Press release). 19 August 2019.
  18. ^ https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/kantodev/pages/102/attachments/original/1582196570/EN_Statutes_of_the_ID_Group.pdf?1582196570
  19. ^ "Extrema direita une forças para eleições europeias". Terra. 25 April 2019.
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