On February 8, 2025, Madrid hosted the first major summit of "Patriots for Europe" (PfE), a coalition of far-right European parties. The event, themed "Make Europe Great Again" (MEGA), drew inspiration from former U.S. President Donald Trump's political messaging and demonstrated an emerging force within European politics. Prominent nationalist leaders, including Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, French National Rally leader Marine Le Pen, Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, Dutch politician Geert Wilders, and Spain's Vox party leader Santiago Abascal, gathered to present a united front ahead of the upcoming European Parliament elections.  One of the dominant themes of the summit was the open admiration for Donald Trump, whose recent return to the U.S. presidency was heralded as a "tornado" that would reshape global politics. Orbán stated that Trump's influence was already "changing the world in just a few weeks," while Le Pen called his victory a "political earthquake" and urged Europe to follow a similar path.  Speakers at the summit delivered strong critiques of the European Union, denouncing it as an overly bureaucratic and centralised institution that erodes national sovereignty. Salvini argued that "Europe is not the cage they built in Brussels," asserting that individual states, not EU institutions, should hold the true power. The leaders expressed a common desire to push back against what they perceive as overregulation from Brussels, calling for a return to a Europe of independent nations rather than a federated bloc.  The coalition members emphasised their opposition to mass migration, which they claim is overburdening European economies and weakening national identities. Le Pen stated that migration policies imposed by Brussels are "destroying our nations," while Orbán accused the EU of "opening the door". Additionally, the summit participants condemned what they called "climate fanaticism," arguing that the EU’s Green Deal is detrimental to European industries. Santiago Abascal of Spain's Vox party delivered a speech invoking the idea of a "reconquest," a term with historical nationalist connotations. "Forward patriots of Europe, without fear of anything or anyone," he declared, urging a political and cultural resurgence against left-wing and centrist forces. The group presented itself as an alternative to traditional conservative parties, positioning itself to make significant electoral gains in the next European Parliament elections.  The PfE coalition, founded after the 2024 European elections, has quickly grown into the third-largest force in the European Parliament. It currently includes 86 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) from 14 countries and represents approximately 19 million voters. The bloc aims to challenge mainstream parties and push for nationalist policies at the EU level.  Despite its rapid growth, the PfE faces challenges in uniting Europe's diverse far-right factions. Key nationalist parties, such as Italy's ruling Brothers of Italy (led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni), Germany’s Alternative for Germany (AfD), and Poland’s Law and Justice (PiS), have yet to join the bloc. Differences in strategy, ideology, and national interests continue to hinder a fully unified European far-right movement.   With a rising voter base and increasing political influence, "Patriots for Europe" is set to play a key role in the upcoming European elections. Whether the coalition can maintain internal unity and expand its reach remains an open question, but its impact on European politics is undeniable.    📷 Photo Contributor: Cristi Dangeorge / Shutterstock...