BRUSSELS ― The historical lessons of Germany’s Nazi era should serve as a cautionary tale for Europe’s conservatives grappling with the implications of collaborating with far-right factions to advance their agendas, according to Manfred Weber, leader of the European People’s Party (EPP).
In an exclusive interview, Weber emphasized the importance of acknowledging the past mistakes of Germany’s conservatives in the 1930s, particularly their role in enabling Adolf Hitler’s ascent to power. He stated, “Having also my German history in mind with Weimar and the Nazi regime, then the real historic mistake was to give right-extreme politicians executive power, and that is for us the red line.”
Navigating a political tightrope
Weber articulated the complex position the EPP faces. While the party does not actively pursue negotiations with far-right groups, it often relies on their votes in the European Parliament, especially on contentious issues like migration and deregulation—areas that have been pivotal in attracting voter support. He noted, “I would love to see a different situation in the European Parliament. But they are here, they have a vote … and the EPP has one principle and that is following our promises.”
Critics, including members of the Socialists, liberals, and Greens, have accused Weber and the EPP of shifting rightward in both policy and rhetoric since the June Parliament election, suggesting that the party has aligned itself too closely with leaders they regard as extreme, such as Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
The EPP’s response to the far-right surge
As the EPP includes influential figures like European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, it has maintained control over major EU institutions since last June’s election. Weber believes that the election results, which positioned the EPP with the largest number of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), reflect a growing demand among citizens for right-wing solutions and a departure from the previous center-left consensus.
Weber expressed his preference for collaborating with centrist parties to facilitate a rightward shift in European politics. However, he also acknowledged that working with far-right groups on critical issues like defense and foreign affairs poses significant challenges. “There is no possibility of achieving anything … to develop Europe together with the far right,” he remarked.
In preparation for the June 2024 European elections, the EPP has adopted populist themes, aiming to integrate them into EU policy as a strategy to deter voters from extremist parties. Weber asserted, “We are fighting against the right extreme … this is only possible if we do policy change to answer what people ask us to do. The others speak about it, but we are doing it.”
On migration, the EPP has committed to enhancing deportations and border controls, while also advocating for the deregulation of key green legislative measures. In the Parliament, the party has leveraged far-right support to pursue its policy objectives, such as revising a deforestation bill and diminishing the authority of the EU ethics body.
Despite Weber’s firm stance against allowing extreme factions into power, various national parties within the EPP, such as Spain’s Partido Popular, have previously allied with far-right groups like Vox. “There is no left-liberal majority anymore in this house, and that must also be translated in politics. Things must change after 180 million people went to [the] ballot boxes,” he stated, emphasizing the need for the EPP’s agenda to shape the European political landscape.