Conservatives welcome 4 new MEPs, 77 seats for the ECR

Brussels –The Group of European Conservatives (ECR) is renewed and enlarged. To the 73 MEPs rewarded at the polls in last weekend’s European elections, four more are added from the new parties that, for the first time, bring a representative to Brussels. The number of seats for the group, where Fratelli d’Italia, the party of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, sits,  therefore rises to 77.

Among the newcomers is Croatian Stjepo Bartulica of Patriotic Movement (DP), a formation that also looked to the ID sovereignty group for possible alliances. A seat thus snatched from right-wing competition. Also joining the European conservatives is the Cypriot, Geadi Geadis, of the National Popular Front, which openly declares itself as no-vax and is accused of neo-fascist sympathies: a natural fit for Geadis given the pre-existing ties with the ECR group and, particularly, FdI. Other new entries include the Latvian from Lista Unita (AS), Reinis Poznaks, and Fernand Kartheiser of the reformist Democratic Alternative Party (ADR) in Luxembourg. It is the first time the grand duchy is represented within the ECR.

“Our steady growth proves that our political project, which advocates a middle ground that seeks a better balance of expertise between Brussels and the national capitals, is credible and attractive,” comments Nicola Procaccini, the group’s current co-chair, whose joy may not end there. The conservatives say this is just a first reorganization, and further new admissions may come later.

“We expect other delegations to join in the next round of admissions,” the ECR said. However, it will be necessary to wait as the final make-up of the group will be decided on June 26, when it will elect the Presidency Office, with Italy, the first delegation, vying to become its leader.

For now, there is no talk of an entry of Fidesz, the party of the Hungarian prime minister, Viktor Orban. The topic was not the subject of today’s (June 12) meeting, but it does not appear to be on the agenda of the upcoming meetings either.