Brussels watchdog moves to ban Alternative for Germany’s EU party The European Union’s watchdog authority has initiated a process that could result in the far-right Europe of Sovereign Nations (ESN) party being stripped of its status as a European political party and losing access to EU funding. The ESN, which includes the Alternative for Germany (AfD) and other far-right groups from across the bloc, faces scrutiny for allegedly violating EU values, including anti-immigration rhetoric, antisemitism, and anti-LGBTQ+ statements. The Authority for European Political Parties and Foundations (APPF) has cited evidence of noncompliance with the EU’s core principles, which emphasize respect for human dignity, democracy, equality, and the rule of law. The ESN party is a separate entity from its parliamentary group in the European Parliament, which consists of 27 members. While the political group is not at risk of sanctions, the party itself could face deregistration if the watchdog’s findings are upheld. The ESN was founded in the aftermath of the 2024 EU elections and includes parties such as Bulgaria’s Revival, France’s Reconquest (led by Éric Zemmour), Poland’s Confederation, Hungary’s Our Homeland Movement, and the Netherlands’ Forum for Democracy. The ESN is set to receive over €2 million in subsidies from the European Parliament in 2026. The APPF’s director, Pascal Schonard, outlined the watchdog’s concerns in a 300-page letter addressed to the Council of the EU. The letter highlights social media posts and court rulings that suggest ESN members engage in anti-immigration, antisemitic, and anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric. For example, Tomasz Michał Grabarczyk, a Polish politician affiliated with the Confederation party, tweeted that “Israel is not just a criminal state.#european_union #alternative_for_germany #europe_of_sovereign_nations #appf
