Radical right factions reject support for new European Commission

On November 22, 2024, in Brussels, Belgium, the far-right group known as Patriots for Europe, which holds 84 seats in the European Parliament, announced its decision to oppose the new European Commission. This announcement came after a series of hearings involving 26 candidate European Commissioners, which was described as a farce by the spokesperson of the group. The rejection signifies the lack of support for the incoming Commission, which may pose challenges to the overall approval process in Parliament. The vote by the Patriots is particularly notable given that they are the third-largest group in Parliament and holds a substantial influence over the legislative process. In addition to the far-right's dissent, the Greens, represented by 43 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), are still mulling over their position. Their spokesperson indicated that a decision will be made on Monday evening, which suggests potential shifts in support dynamics within the Parliament. This uncertainty raises questions about how the newly proposed Commission will navigate the voting landscape, especially since the larger coalition formed by the center-right European People's Party (EPP), the Social Democrats (S&D), and the liberal Renew group controls a solid majority with 401 seats. The current situation reflects a growing polarization within the European Parliament and illustrates the complexities of coalition politics at the EU level. The voting behavior in this institution can differ significantly from party discipline observed in national politics, such as in The Hague. As such, despite the EPP, S&D, and Renew group's majority, the dissent from both the far-right and the Greens may lead to fragmentation and negotiations that could influence future legislative actions by the Commission. Given the imperatives of the political landscape, the incoming Commission will need to address the concerns raised by these factions and possibly engage in heightened negotiations to secure the requisite support. This political climate indicates that the approval of the Commission could become a contentious issue, possibly mirroring challenges faced in previous legislative matters, thereby underscoring the importance of building broad consensus across diverse political groups in the European Parliament.