Patriots for Europe (PfE) was found after the 2024 European Parliament elections as an ambitious project to unite conservative, nationalist, and Eurosceptic parties. It quickly established itself as the third strongest political force in the European Parliament, however, its influence is still limited a year later by the so-called cordon sanitaire – an informal block made up of traditional pro-European factions. Analysis shows that this cordon is gradually losing effectiveness and is no longer a functional instrument of political isolation. On the contrary, the Patriots for Europe are having partial successes and there are signs of cooperation with factions such as the ECR or parts of the EPP. The future of this faction depends on its ability to maintain internal cohesion, to communicate its priorities convincingly and to win allies at a time of growing tensions between nation states and the European institutions.

Key takeaways:

• Significant emergence of a new faction: the PfE has become the third strongest faction in the European Parliament, uniting key sovereigntist and conservative parties across the EU and pushing an agenda based on national sovereignty, rejection of the Green Deal, and control of migration.
• Cordon sanitaire loses effectiveness: Although the traditional factions are trying to isolate the PfE, it is being disrupted. The Patriots are gaining more influence in the legislative processes and finding allies among MEPs of the EPP and the ECR.
• Key challenges and future potential: The PfE must overcome internal divisions between national parties, confront stigmatization, and respond to the changing geopolitical situation. Further success will depend on the ability of the group to consolidate its influence and offer voters an alternative to the current form of European integration.

Analysis – Jan Rovenský

The analysis is in PDF under the link below.