A rally was held in Madrid on Saturday by Europe’s biggest far-right bloc, Patriots for Europe, led by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and France’s Marine Le Pen. The event adopted the slogan “Make Europe Great Again”, a nod to US President Donald Trump’s campaign phrase. The gathering aimed to show force and promote the group’s position in the European Parliament.
Orban called for a “180-degree pivot” and hailed Trump as a leader who has shown the way forward for the EU, despite previous criticisms of his policies. Le Pen also praised Trump’s victory, saying it was a “tornado” that would sweep across the US and Europe.
The rally brought together other far-right leaders, including Dutch anti-Islam firebrand Geert Wilders and Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini.
Patriots for Europe has become the European Parliament’s third-largest force since Orban launched it last year to promote a more right-wing agenda in the EU. The group wants to weaken the EU and reduce immigration, which is seen as a key issue by many far-right parties.
The event was seen as an opportunity for Patriots for Europe to position itself against rival extreme-right groups in the EU assembly. However, some leaders warned that aligning too closely with Trump could be risky, as his policies are often divisive and unpopular.
Source: https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250208-eu-s-largest-far-right-bloc-makes-show-of-force-in-madrid