Marine Le Pen delivered a speech at a rally organized by the far-right Spanish party Vox in Madrid on May 19, 2024. The National Rally (RN) is choosing isolation over controversy, breaking ties with the Alternative for Germany (AfD), one of its main allies within the Identity and Democracy (ID) group, two weeks before the European elections. Alexandre Loubet, campaign director for Jordan Bardella, confirmed the decision to no longer sit with AfD in the next term, citing recent statements from the German party. Marine Le Pen had already expressed doubts about AfD’s radicalism affecting their reliability as an ally.
The final straw came when Maximilian Krah, AfD’s lead candidate in the upcoming election, made controversial comments in an interview with Italian newspaper La Repubblica and the British Financial Times. Krah suggested that not all members of the SS, a paramilitary organization central to Adolf Hitler’s totalitarian regime, should be automatically considered criminals, as some were farmers and not all were involved in criminal activities. This statement added to the string of controversies surrounding the German far-right party.
AfD’s provocative and legally questionable actions have put RN in a difficult position. Krah openly challenged RN by suggesting that if AfD were expelled, it would be difficult for RN to meet the minimum requirement of seven countries to form a group in the European Parliament. While Marine Le Pen acknowledged the importance of German partners in European strategy, RN still decided to cut ties with AfD to protect its image and distance itself from the radical rhetoric of its former ally.
Looking towards the future and the 2027 elections, RN’s focus is not on European strategy but on maintaining its own political standing. The party has never fully engaged with European democracy, and forming a new group without German representation may pose challenges for RN in the European Parliament. The decision to sever ties with AfD reflects a desire to avoid being associated with the controversies and radical views of its former ally, even if it means facing potential difficulties in Brussels and Strasbourg.
Despite the potential consequences and challenges ahead, RN remains committed to its course of action. While the separation from AfD may lead to a smaller parliamentary group and more complicated negotiations in the European Parliament, RN is willing to take that risk to uphold its own political identity and reputation. As Marine Le Pen once stated, it is important to address the “elephant in the room” when it comes to engaging with German partners in European politics. Ultimately, the decision to break ties with AfD signals RN’s willingness to prioritize its own interests and image over maintaining alliances with controversial partners.
