Dutch far-right leader says will join Orban’s European parliamentary group

Dutch far-right leader Geert Wilders said Friday that his party would join a European parliamentary alliance recently formed by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

Orban announced the formation of the group on Sunday, joined by Austria’s far-right party and the Czech centrist group of ex-premier Andrej Babis.

The new alliance, “Patriots for Europe,” needs support from parties from at least four other countries to be recognized as a group in the EU parliament.

“We want to combine forces in the (European Parliament) and will proudly join Patriots for Europe!” Wilders said in a statement.

“Strong and sovereign. Resisting illegal immigration. We defend peace and freedom. And support Ukraine. We protect our Judeo-Christian heritage. And our families.”

Orban — whose country assumed the EU’s rotating presidency this week — has long railed against the “Brussels elites,” most recently accusing Brussels of fueling the war in Ukraine.

Hungary has vowed to use its EU presidency to push for its “vision of Europe” under the motto “Make Europe Great Again” — echoing the rallying cry of Orban ally former US president Donald Trump.

Wilders’ PVV (Freedom Party) has six seats in the European Parliament. The party was the big winner of Dutch parliamentary elections in November and heads the recently formed coalition government.