Czech MEP says far-right isolation effective as Patriots fail to secure VP spots

4 months ago 20

Isolating far-right parties works, Czech MEP Ondřej Kolář (EPP) told Euractiv Czechia after the newly formed Patriots for Europe group failed to win any vice-presidential seats in the European Parliament on Tuesday.

Despite being the third largest group in the European Parliament, Orban’s Patriots for Europe did not get any vice president spots.

With their candidate, Czech MEP Klára Dostálová (ANO), failing to secure enough votes, it appears that the isolation of the far right in the EU Parliament—better known as the ‘cordon sanitaire‘—agreed by the parties of the pro-European centre majority is bearing fruit.

“As long as Viktor Orbán behaves like he does and takes the other states hostage (…) I personally say that I have no reason to talk to this faction at all,” newly elected Czech MEP Ondřej Kolář (EPP) told Euractiv Czechia.

“Apparently, it (cordon sanitaire) works,” Kolář added. “They asked for it,” he said.

In his view, the vote reflects that ANO has decided to cooperate with parties with a poor reputation in Europe.

They cannot be surprised that others “will not want to play cards with them”, he added.

The key agreement on which groups will occupy the main positions in the European Parliament was reached well in advance.

Although the number of vice-presidential seats was supposed to correspond to the distribution of power of the groups in the European Parliament, some were left behind, regardless of their numbers in the European Parliament.

As a result, MEPs from the Patriots for Europe group (84 MEPs) or the Europe of Sovereign Nations group (25 MEPs) were not among the vice-presidents – and are unlikely to be appointed quaestors or hold key committee posts.

Neither the Patriots’ Klara Dostálová, who received only 116 votes in the second and final round of voting, nor her group colleague Fabrice Leggeri (National Association) succeeded.

When asked whether this could be seen as evidence of the isolation of the Patriots—and the ANO MEPs who belong to them—Czech MEP Jaroslav Bžoch (ANO) refused to comment.

ANO is a former member of the Renew Europe group but switched to the Patriots after the elections due to disagreements with the liberal programme.

(Dávid Pásztor, Barbora Pištorová | Euractiv.cz)