The liberal Renew group in the European Parliament must choose a new leader less than five months before the European Parliament elections in June. Dutch MEP Malik Azman is considered the favourite, but his party’s coalition talks with right-wing populists at home could prove a stumbling block for him.
Renew was left leaderless when French President Emmanuel Macron appointed Stephane Sejourne, the current leader of Europe’s liberals, as France’s new foreign minister on January 11.
Sejourne’s deputy, Dutch MEP Malik Azmani, has begun acting as the group’s leader, but there is no consensus among MPs whether to quickly elect him as the new leader or look for someone else to replace him.
“I think it is logical that Malik Azmani, who holds the position of deputy head of Renew Europe, becomes the leader of the group,” Czech MEP Ondrej Kovarík told Euractiv.
At the same time, some MPs do not want Azmani to become the faction’s leader, because his right-wing liberal party VVD is currently negotiating with right-wing populist politician Geert Wilders, who won the Dutch elections in November. Renew wants to present himself to voters as a fierce opponent of right-wing populists, which is why some MPs believe Azman would not be a credible leader of the faction.
“I think it would be very problematic if our faction was led by someone whose party is holding coalition talks with the far right in the Netherlands. What does this say about us as a faction that spreads liberal values and opposes extremism?” MEP Sophie In’t Veld, representative of the Dutch centrist party D66, told Euractiv.
“I am a European politician. I will not change the direction of my faction, and I cannot imagine cooperation with the far right here in Europe, because that would weaken Europe, not strengthen it,” Azmani told reporters.
In addition to his home party’s problems, opposition from French Renaissance, the largest party represented by Renew, could prove an obstacle to Azman’s election. French President Emmanuel Macron wants to maintain control of Renew, especially in light of the European Parliament elections in June.
“[Macronil on vaja] keep Renew Europe as close as possible to its own positions, in particular on the economy, industrial policy, strategic autonomy, national security and defense and other issues that form the core of French foreign policy,” analyst Eric Maurice told Euractiv.
2024-01-17 16:14:00
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