Conservatism and 'Eurorealism' in the European Parliament: the European Conservatives and Reformists under the leadership of Poland's Law and Justice

After the 2019 European Parliament (EP) election, the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) party grouping experienced a major change in its representation and leadership, with the wholescale departure of its core British Conservative MEPs. Yet the ECR remained an important and coherent transn...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:European politics and society (Abingdon, England) England), 2023-10, Vol.24 (5), p.585-602
Main Authors: Steven, Martin, Szczerbiak, Aleks
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Christian democracy
Conservatism
Democracy
Elections
European Parliament
Eurorealism
Euroscepticism
International relations
Justice
Law
Leadership
Legislatures
Political leadership
political parties
Radicalism
Single market
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Summary:After the 2019 European Parliament (EP) election, the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) party grouping experienced a major change in its representation and leadership, with the wholescale departure of its core British Conservative MEPs. Yet the ECR remained an important and coherent transnational party federation in Strasbourg, acting as a strong voice for conservatism in Europe as distinct from Christian Democracy and the radical right. With large numbers of MEPs from Poland's Law and Justice (PiS) party within the grouping, there was also much continuity with policies that were opposed to 'ever closer union', in favour of business and the single market and also of the wider role of the USA and NATO in international relations. Often written off as merely a 'Eurosceptic' faction, the start of the 2019-2024 EP session saw the grouping consolidate its influence and profile in EU affairs as a distinctive right-of-centre party in the Hemicycle.
ISSN:2374-5118
2374-5126
DOI:10.1080/23745118.2022.2065725