Hungarian Christian Democratic People's Party (KDNP), which has 1 MEP, also announced its intention to join the alliance following its exit from the EPP Group. On 1 July, the nationalist Portuguese party Chega became the fourth member of the Patriots for Europe, with two MEPs.[32][33] On 5 July, the Spanish Vox party also joined, leaving the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group.[34] The same day, the Dutch Party for Freedom (PVV), formerly part of the ID Group, also announced it would join.[35] On 6 July, the Danish People's Party and Vlaams Belang, both part of the ID group, announced they would also join, putting the group above the minimum member states required for group formation.[36][37] On 8 July, the National Rally (RN) and Lega were announced as new members of the group.[38][39] The prerequisite for establishing a political group of the European Parliament is the membership of at least 23 MEPs from at least seven EU member states. The alliance met this criterion on 6 July 2024.[40] According to Le Monde, the RN waited for the end of the second round of the 2024 French legislative election for the announcement "for fear of reviving suspicion of pro-Russian sympathies".[41]
On 8 July, Jordan Bardella, president of the National Rally (RN) of France, was named the group's President, together with Vice-Presidents, Chief Whip and Treasurer.[42][43][44]
Members
10th European Parliament
Patriots for Europe has MEPs in 12 member states. Dark purple indicates member states sending multiple MEPs, light purple indicates member states sending a single MEP.
Alternative for Germany (AfD), which has won 15 MEPs (formerly part of the ID Group), however, due to previous tension between Fidesz and AfD, this was seen as unlikely,[51] with the AfD stating it had no current plans to join.[52] The AfD expressed interest in creating a group including Hungarian Fidesz rival Our Homeland Movement, as well as other parties such as the Bulgarian Revival. The AfD eventually established its own group, with these parties, Europe of Sovereign Nations.[53]
Smer–SD was speculated to join the alliance with 5 MEPs; however, according to its junior coalition partner, Hlas–SD, Smer–SD expressed a preference for rejoining the S&D group.[57] Though it was later rejected from S&D,[58] it declined to join Patriots for Europe, citing ideological differences.[59]
^ANO 2011 announced its departure from ALDE and Renew Europe on 21 June 2024 due to leader Babiš’s declaration that ANO would not be able to fulfill its program in its current European political family. ANO considered joining other EU political groups after its departure, meaning which group aligns more with their program, before successfully negotiating the creation of the Patriots for Europe alliance with Fidesz and the FPÖ.
^KDNP left the EPP party and the EPP group, after the EPP group decided to admit the TISZA party. After the creation of the Patriots for Europe alliance, KDNP had decided to join.
^The party contested the 2019 European Parliament election as a member of ID, but failed to win any seats. After the 2024 election, the party gained representation, but decided to join PfE instead of sitting with the collapsing ID.