Jordan Bardella, the president of the Rassemblement national and head of the far-right French party, held a press conference in Paris on May 16, 2024. Following an embarrassing incident involving the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, with which they were previously part of the Identity and Democracy (ID) group in the European Parliament, the Rassemblement national (RN) announced to Le Monde on May 21 that they will no longer sit with the German party within ID after the European elections on June 9, confirming a report from Libération. This decision was made in response to remarks made by the AfD’s lead candidate Maximilian Krah, who stated in an interview with the Italian newspaper La Repubblica that not all members of the SS were criminals.
Jordan Bardella, the president of RN and lead candidate for the European elections, decided to no longer sit with the AfD members in the European Parliament, as confirmed by his campaign director, Alexandre Loubet. This decision was made due to the continuous controversies surrounding their German partner, which made it necessary for the RN to take action. Marine Le Pen and her party have been grappling with the controversies surrounding their German partners for several months, including allegations of illegal funding from Russian and Chinese sources against Maximilian Krah, an AfD member. The far-right party in Germany has faced condemnation for the use of Nazi slogans and controversial statements about the Holocaust memorial in Berlin.
Despite the potential consequences of his statements on the RN’s alliance with the AfD, Krah challenged Marine Le Pen and stated that he doubts they will be able to reach the required number of seven countries to form a group if they are expelled from ID. Marine Le Pen also attended a meeting organized by the Spanish nationalist party Vox, along with other far-right leaders like Viktor Orban and Giorgia Meloni, in an effort to build a global alliance between nationalist parties. This move further highlights the shifting alliances within the European far-right political landscape and the challenges faced by parties like the RN in maintaining their relationships with controversial partners like the AfD.
The decision to cut ties with the AfD highlights the growing unease within the RN about the controversies and extremist views associated with their German partners. The RN had initially maintained the partnership to ensure the survival of the ID group in the European Parliament, but the repeated incidents involving the AfD pushed them to sever their alliance. The move reflects the importance of political image and values in maintaining international alliances, especially for far-right parties like the RN that are seeking to broaden their appeal while distancing themselves from extremist elements.
The RN’s decision to distance itself from the AfD comes amidst a broader trend of shifting alliances and strategies within the European far-right political landscape. As parties like the RN seek to expand their influence and appeal across borders, they are faced with the challenge of balancing their core values and principles with the need to navigate complex international relationships. The controversies surrounding the AfD and other far-right parties expose the tensions and dilemmas faced by these parties as they seek to advance their political agendas while grappling with the controversial statements and actions of their allies. Ultimately, these dynamics highlight the complex and evolving nature of far-right politics in Europe and the challenges faced by parties like the RN in navigating these dynamics.
