Czech ANO Leaves RE, ECR Cemented As Third-Largest Group

The Czech populist ANO (Action of Dissatisfied Citizens) party of former PM Andrej Babis has formally withdrawn from the liberal Renew Europe (RE) political grouping within the European Parliament, and its associated ALDE European party. ANO won seven seats in the EP in the recent elections, making it the single largest representation from Czechia in Brussels.

• Babis has said that ANO would not be able to fulfil its policy programme within RE, and that over the next two weeks it will decide on which political group to join. Notably, Babis has said that joining the conservative European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group is not a solution.
• Even without gaining ANO's seven MEPs, the move serves to cement the ECR's position as the third-largest political grouping in the EP. In recent days a number of small parties from Denmark, Bulgaria, France, Lithuania, and Romania have joined the ECR, boosting its numbers to 83 MEPs. With the loss of ANO, RE falls to 74 MEPs.
• While the division of senior positions for the EU institutions is seen as largely pencilled-in, the ECR leapfrogging RE could throw up some obstacles. While not legislated for, the ECR as the third-largest group would customarily be given a senior position.
• Estonian PM Kaja Kallas, the presumptive next High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, claimedthat following the 17 June EUCO summit, Italian PM Giorgia Meloni is not seeking a senior position for the ECR, but this stance could change once the group sizes are formalised.