Shifts in the European Parliament: Gualmini joins Renew, Vannacci joins the far‑right ESN

Brussels – Two Italian MEPs are changing seats in the European Parliament. Elisabetta Gualmini is joining the Renew Europe liberal group, while General Roberto Vannacci is joining the far-right group, Europe of Sovereign Nations, founded by Germany’s AfD. 

Gualmini and Vannacci’s changes of allegiance are a direct consequence of decisions taken at the national level. Gualmini left the Democratic Party to join Azione, thus bidding farewell to the Socialists and Democrats (S&D) group in the European Parliament to knock on the door of the liberals. Vannacci, who left the League and founded a new party, Futuro Nazionale, had to step down from the vice presidency of the Patriots for Europe group and joined another sovereigntist group, ESN.

On the one hand, Gualmini emphasised “the strong pro-European stance, the defence of democratic and liberal values, and the promotion of competitiveness and innovation” that characterise the liberal group, led in the European Parliament by France’s Valérie Hayer. Vannacci, at a press conference together with ESN group leader Rene Aust, said he “fully identified with the principles and values of the ESN.” 

With the new additions, Renew Europe now has 76 members in the European Parliament, making it the fifth largest group after the European People’s Party, S&D, the Patriots, and the Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), while ESN remains the smallest, with 28 MEPs.