| Identity and Democracy | |
|---|---|
| European Parliament group | |
 | |
| Name | Identity and Democracy |
| English abbr. | ID |
| Formal name | Identity and Democracy Group |
| Ideology |
Euroscepticism[1] |
| Political position | Right-wing[10]tofar-right[17] |
| European parties | Identity and Democracy Party |
| From | 13 June 2019 |
| Preceded by | Europe of Nations and Freedom |
| Chaired by | Marco Zanni |
| MEP(s) |
58 / 720
|
| Website | www |
Identity and Democracy (French: Identité et démocratie, ID) is a political group of the European Parliament, launched on 13 June 2019 for the Ninth European Parliament term. It comprises Eurosceptic national parties from ten European states. It is the successor to the Europe of Nations and Freedom group formed during the eighth term.
In April 2019, the Danish People's Party and the Finns Party (at the time members of the European Conservatives and Reformists) announced their intention to form a new grouping with Alternative for Germany, formerly of the ECR, ENF and EFDD groups, and Italy's League following the 2019 elections.[18] AfD spokesman Jörg Meuthen appeared alongside Northern League leader Matteo Salvini to formally announce the formation of the new European political alliance with the Finns Party and Danish People's Party which was provisionally named European Alliance for People and Nations.[19]
On 12 June 2019, it was announced that the group would be named "Identity and Democracy" (ID), include Italy's League (LSP), the French National Rally (RN) and Alternative for Germany as member parties, and be a successor to the Europe of Nations and Freedom (ENF).[20] The Finns Party also joined the group.[21] Lega MEP Marco Zanni was announced as the new group's chairman.[22] The group, composed at that time of 73 MEPs, was launched in Brussels by RN leader Marine Le Pen on 13 June 2019. It was expanded to include former ENF members Vlaams Belang and the Freedom Party of Austria, as well the new Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) party from the Czech Republic and the Conservative People's Party of Estonia (EKRE).[13][12]
The Dutch Party for Freedom (PVV) failed to secure any seats at the election; however, it gained one in the post-Brexit apportionment of seats. Before Brexit occurred, Party leader Geert Wilders stated his intention to align the PVV with ID, provided that the post-Brexit apportionment was confirmed by the European Council.[23][24] PVV MEP Marcel de Graaff subsequently took the seat, but in 2022 defected to the Forum for Democracy, citing his support for the FvD's policies against the COVID-19 vaccine. The FvD accordingly changed its affiliation from the ECR group to Identity and Democracy.
In 2023, the FvD was suspended from the group after de Graaf shared messages on Twitter supportive of Putin following the Russian invasion of Ukraine and later quit the group citing difference in views on the matter.[25][26]
Although political commentators have noted the group contains members who have called for Europe to open up relations with Putin's government, the group has taken a pro-Ukraine stance and voted in support of a motion in the European Parliament to condemn "Russian aggression against Ukraine" following the Russian invasion of the country.[27]
In April 2023, the Finns Party changed membership to the European Conservatives and Reformists group citing their change in policy to support NATO membership as the reason for the move.[28]
Ahead of the 2024 European Parliament election, AfD lead candidate Maximilian Krah made controversial statements on the Waffen-SS in an interview which was met with anger within the group.[29] In response, National Rally spokespeople Jordan Bardella and Caroline Parmentier announced they would part ways with Alternative for Germany after the election and not include the AfD in the group due to Krah's remarks and allegations of Chinese espionage influence on the party.[30][31] Lega leader Matteo Salvini and the Czech Freedom and Direct Democracy subsequently backed the position taken by the National Rally, with both parties saying they would terminate collaboration with the AfD after the election.[32][33] Vlaams Belang criticized Krah's statements with VB MEP Gerolf Annemans calling Krah "increasingly problematic" but declined to immediately expel and cut cooperation with AfD, instead arguing that they would wait until after the election before making a decision.[34] The Danish People's Party issued an ultimatum that the AfD could only remain in the ID group on the condition of Krah's expulsion with MEP Anders Vistisen stating that the AfD should purge extremist elements if the two parties were to keep working together.[35] The Portuguese Chega, a member of the ID Party, described the RN’s decision as a “game changer” and suggested it would now consider joining the European Conservatives and Reformists group or a new merged European Parliament group.[36] The Estonian EKRE and the FPÖ supported removing Krah but opposed the expulsion of the entire AfD faction. After an internal meeting and vote, the Identity and Democracy board subsequently voted in favour of ejecting the AfD, with group leader Marco Zanni citing Krah's interview, as well as reports of Chinese and Russian influence on the AfD. The AfD consequently moved to non-inscrits.[37][38] Following the decision, the AfD said that Krah would not be permitted to sit with the AfD faction in the European Parliament after the election and that they would negotiate to rejoin Identity and Democracy.[39]
The group lists its core priorities as protecting European cultural heritage and the sovereignty of European nations, creating jobs and growth, increasing security, stopping illegal immigration, regulating legal immigration, fighting EU bureaucracy and preventing what it describes as the potential Islamisation of Europe. Identity and Democracy also opposes the possible accession of Turkey to the European Union.[40] The group calls for a Europe based on cooperation and further reforms of the EU through "more transparency and accountability" at Brussels, but rejects any further evolution towards a European Superstate.[41] Political commentators have variously described Identity and Democracy as nationalist, right-wing populist, anti-immigrant,[1] and Eurosceptic, although the group emphasises itself as sovereigntist as opposed to "anti-European".[2]
| State | National party | European party | MEPs[42] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Austria
|
Freedom Party of Austria Freiheitliche Partei Österreichs (FPÖ) |
ID Party |
3 / 19
| |
 Belgium
|
Flemish Interest Vlaams Belang (VB) |
ID Party |
3 / 21
| |
 Czech Republic
|
Freedom and Direct Democracy Svoboda a přímá demokracie (SPD) |
ID Party |
1 / 21
| |
 Denmark
|
Danish People's Party Dansk Folkeparti (DF) |
None |
1 / 14
| |
 Estonia
|
Conservative People's Party of Estonia Eesti Konservatiivne Rahvaerakond (EKRE) |
ID Party |
1 / 7
| |
 France
|
National Rally Rassemblement national (RN) |
ID Party |
18 / 79
| |
 Italy
|
League Lega |
ID Party |
22 / 76
| |
 European Union
|
Total |
49 / 705
| ||
| State | National party | European party | New group | MEPs[43] | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Finland
|
Finns Party Perussuomalaiset |
None | ECR |
2 / 14
| ||
 Germany
|
Alternative for Germany Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) |
ID Party | Non-Inscrits |
9 / 96
| ||
 Netherlands
|
Forum for Democracy Forum voor Democratie (FvD) |
None | Non-Inscrits |
1 / 29
| ||
The far-right grouping in the newly elected European Parliament has taken the name Identity and Democracy, in a sign of the growing influence of "identitarian" supremacist politics.
Members of the far-right Identity and Democracy Group have said no to more defense integration
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