Two Polish Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) from the far-right Konfederacja party, Anna Brylka and Tomasz Buczek, have announced their decision to join Viktor Orbán’s newly-formed far-right group Patriots for Europe. This move follows weeks of negotiations.
The announcement, first reported by Euractiv, adds a new layer to the already complex political landscape in the new European Parliament. The group Patriots for Europe was established by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and has drawn in far-right figures from across Europe, including notable politicians such as Marine Le Pen of France’s National Rally, Santiago Abascal of Spain’s Vox, and members of Orbán’s own Fidesz party.
Background of Konfederacja’s Split
The June 2024 elections to the European Parliament saw Konfederacja secure six seats, but internal divisions quickly led to the party splintering into two distinct factions. Three of the newly elected MEPs—Ewa Zajączkowska-Hernik, Stanisław Tyszka, and Marcin Sypniewski—opted to join the new group Europe of Sovereign Nations, while the remaining three MEPs stayed independent, at least initially. Now, with Brylka and Buczek’s decision to join Patriots for Europe, only one MEP from Konfederacja remains unaffiliated with any major group.
🇵🇱 | Welcome to the Patriots for Europe Group @annabrylka and @buczek_tomasz! #Patriots pic.twitter.com/GVYTU2ZnCI
— Patriots for Europe (@PatriotsEP) October 1, 2024
Anna Brylka, in her public statement on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), said the decision to join Orbán’s group came after “long negotiations.” She stated that the aim was to become part of the largest far-right group in the current European Parliament, adding that the move would allow them to better represent Polish national interests.
“We will work alongside National Rally, Vox, and Fidesz, and we will proudly represent Poland’s national interests in the Patriots for Europe group,” Brylka noted. She also emphasised that joining this bloc would help MEPs from Konfederacja more effectively advance their political agenda in the European Parliament.
The Significance of the Move
This shift highlights the growing influence of far-right movements within the European Union. Orbán, who has long been a vocal critic of the EU’s policies on migration, human rights, and rule of law, continues to position himself as a leading figure in the far-right political spectrum. His efforts to consolidate far-right forces under the Patriots for Europe umbrella demonstrate a strategic attempt to create a more powerful voice in European politics, capable of pushing back against what these parties perceive as Brussels’ overreach in national affairs.
The addition of Brylka and Buczek strengthens Orbán’s group, which is already attracting some of Europe’s most prominent far-right leaders. With Patriots for Europe now boasting MEPs from multiple countries, it is positioned to become a significant force, potentially challenging the mainstream centre-right and centre-left groups that have traditionally dominated the European Parliament.
However, the fragmentation within Konfederacja raises questions about the future of the Polish far-right in European politics. The party’s internal divisions have led to a lack of unified strategy, with different factions joining separate political alliances. This splintering of Konfederacja is notable, as it is relatively uncommon for MEPs from the same party to join different parliamentary groups. It indicates deeper ideological divides within Poland’s far-right movement, potentially weakening its overall influence both domestically and in the European Parliament.
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