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European Parliament approves probe that could end EU funding for AfD-linked party
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Elections & Politics

European Parliament approves probe that could end EU funding for AfD-linked party

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • The European Parliament has approved an independent investigation into the European Sovereigns' Alliance (ESN), a European political party associated with Germany's AfD.
  • The probe will determine if ESN adheres to fundamental European values and qualifies for EU funding.
  • Evidence presented includes alleged antisemitic, anti-LGBTQ+, and anti-migrant content, as well as ties to Russian political parties.

The European Parliament has given the green light for an independent investigation into the European Sovereigns' Alliance (ESN), a European political party linked to Germany's Alternative for Germany (AfD) and other far-right groups. The investigation will assess whether ESN meets the minimum values required to operate as a European party and receive community funding.

With 414 votes in favor, 224 against, and 18 abstentions, the Parliament authorized the Authority for European Political Parties and European Political Foundations (APPF) to proceed. The APPF's preliminary report, spanning 300 pages, cites social media posts and messages from individuals connected to the party containing alleged antisemitic, anti-LGBTQ+, and anti-migrant content. The report also includes evidence suggesting a member of ESN cooperates with Russian President Vladimir Putin's party.

It is an exercise in responsibility and neutral transparency in which the European Parliament tells the APPF to do their job if they consider that such evidence exists.

— Iratxe GarcíaPresident of the Social Democrat group explaining the rationale behind the European Parliament's vote.

ESN, formed after the 2024 European elections, includes parties such as Bulgaria's Revival, Slovakia's Republic, France's Reconquête, Hungary's Our Homeland Movement, and Poland's Coalition for the Renewal of the Republic, among others. Major political groups in the European Parliament, including the European People's Party, Socialists and Democrats, Renew Europe, the Greens, and The Left, supported the investigation. Conversely, the European Conservatives and Reformists, Patriots for Europe, and ESN itself opposed it.

Parliamentary leaders described the vote as a technical exercise in responsibility and transparency, allowing the authority to conduct its work without prejudging the content. Following this decision, the APPF will request observations from ESN and provide a one-month window for corrective measures. A subsequent independent committee opinion and potential objections from the Parliament or Council could follow, potentially leading to the withdrawal of ESN's EU funding if violations are confirmed.

a fairly technical decision to give the authority the possibility to do its job. We do not assess the content.

— Manfred WeberLeader of the European People's Party group describing the vote.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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