ByAlessia PerettiEURACTIV.it. 08072024updated:09072024. NewsBased on facts, either observed and verified directly by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. "We are building the Patriots group, aiming to be the thirdlargest in the entire Parliament: conditions will be met this week for an official announcement that will change the balance in Brussels," Salvini, Italian deputy prime minister and leader of Lega  the party that is currently in the Eurosceptic EU group ID  told Libero in an interview on Sunday. EPAEFEDANIEL DAL ZENNARO. Languages:Fran aisDeutschPrintEmailFacebookXLinkedInWhatsAppTelegram. PrintEmailFacebookXLinkedInWhatsAppTelegram. The new alliance Patriots for Europe, led by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orb n and seeking to form a political group in the European Parliament, will overtake Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni s ECR, Matteo Salvini, who is aligning himself more closely with the new group, said on Sunday. We are building the Patriots group, aiming to be the thirdlargest in the entire Parliament: conditions will be met this week for an official announcement that will change the balance in Brussels, Salvini, Italian deputy prime minister and leader of Lega the party that is currently in the Eurosceptic EU group ID toldLiberoin an interview on Sunday. Given that both groups are farright, there are fears that other parties could follow the lead of VOX, which announced on Friday that it was switching from the ECR to the Patriots. For example, it is possible that the most Eurosceptic groups will distance themselves from the ECR because of Meloni s ambiguous stance on Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Despite the tense situation on the European front, Salvini has pledged his loyalty to his government in, which his party governs alongside the majority party, Fratelli d Italia, led by Meloni, and Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani s Forza Italia. The Italian government will continue, determined, united, and concrete until the autumn of 2027, not a day less, he said on Sunday. Tajani, whose party is a key member of the EPP, commented on Orb n s Patriot group on Friday, calling it irrelevant. . Until the other day Salvini was in the ID group, which is transforming into the Patriots. But it s still not there , he said. It is unclear whether there will be enough nations to form it. And anyway, it is irrelevant because no one wants to deal with them if there are antiEuropean positions and opposition to EU principles, Tajani added. Alessia Peretti  Euractiv.it. Languages:Fran aisDeutschPrintEmailFacebookXLinkedInWhatsAppTelegram. PrintEmailFacebookXLinkedInWhatsAppTelegram
Salvini plans to create a new political group in the European Parliament called Patriots for Europe, aiming to become the third-largest. This alliance is led by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and may surpass Italian Prime Minister Meloni's ECR group. There is concern that Eurosceptic groups could align with the Patriots due to Salvini's loyalty to his government until 2027. Some parties may distance themselves from the ECR over Meloni's stance on EU issues. Tajani has dismissed the relevance of the Patriots group.