The main center-right family in the European parliament does not want its members to appear publicly alongside far-right lawmakers, even if they align with them in voting within the European Parliament.
According to officials from the European People's Party, the group led by German Manfred Weber is considering sanctions against Slovenian MEP Branko Grims, after he took part in an event involving members of the far right Patriots for Europe (PfE) and Europe of Sovereign Nations (ESN) groups, as well as the right-wing European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR).
EPP officials say Weber has asked the group’s presidency to draw up a concrete proposal for sanctions against Grims. The measures could range from stripping him of speaking time during plenary sessions to expelling him from the group altogether.
No final decision has been made yet, as the next Presidency meeting is convened for mid-June, but this episode could prove embarrassing for the group. Grims has repeatedly defied its position by advocating cooperation with far-right parties — a clear red line for the EPP leadership.
Grims "has been begging for sanctions," an EPP source told Euronews. "We just fear this would help him with his voters, as he likes to be seen as a victim of censorship."
