MADRID — Europe’s far-right leaders gathered in Madrid on Saturday in a show of unity and strength following Donald Trump’s reelection, vowing to reshape the continent under the banner of “Make Europe Great Again.” The rally, organized by the Patriots for Europe—the third-largest political group in the European Parliament—marked their first major event since forming after last summer’s EU elections. The agenda included scrapping green policies, combating Islam, opposing EU governance in Brussels, curbing migration, rejecting gender and family diversity, and fighting what they termed “population replacement.”
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, the most prominent leader at the event, praised Trump’s impact, declaring, “Our friend Trump, the Trump tornado, has changed the world in just a couple of weeks. An era has ended. Today, everyone sees that we are the future.” Orbán’s remarks underscored the far-right’s confidence in their growing influence, buoyed by Trump’s return to power.
French far-right leader Marine Le Pen echoed Orbán’s sentiments, stating, “We’re facing a global tipping point.” She also took a swipe at European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, claiming she has “all but disappeared from the screens” since Trump’s inauguration.
A Gathering of Far-Right Heavyweights
The rally, held at Madrid Airport’s Marriott Conference Center, drew around 2,000 attendees, including loyal supporters of Spain’s Vox party and far-right figures from across Europe. Leaders such as the Netherlands’ Geert Wilders, Italy’s Matteo Salvini, Czechia’s Andrej Babiš, and Austria’s Herbert Kickl (who joined via video link) took the stage to outline their vision for Europe.
The speakers framed their mission as a modern-day “Reconquista,” drawing parallels to the medieval Christian reconquest of the Iberian Peninsula from Muslim rulers. They pledged to reclaim European governments from socialist, liberal, and center-right forces, emphasizing national sovereignty and traditional values.
Targeting the EU and Green Policies
The leaders unanimously criticized the European Union and its policies, particularly the Green Deal, which they blamed for economic and social challenges. Czechia’s Babiš, a former prime minister, declared, “The Green Deal is dead,” accusing Brussels of leading Europe toward economic collapse. Le Pen echoed this sentiment, calling EU energy policy a “fiasco” and highlighting industrialists’ rebellion against what she described as “absurd and suicidal dictates.”
Migration was another key issue, with leaders blaming Brussels for the influx of migrants and vowing to crack down on illegal immigration. Wilders, whose PVV party has been part of the Dutch government since last year, asked the crowd, “Do you have enough of crime in Spain? Do you have a lot of Islamic immigration in Spain? Do you have enough of woke insanity?” The audience responded with enthusiastic cheers of “Yes!” and “Viva España.”
Defending Traditional Values
The rally also featured strong rhetoric against gender and sexual diversity, with leaders celebrating Trump’s policies on gender and family. Poland’s Krzysztof Bosak, leader of the Konfederacja party, vowed to defend “Christianity and traditional values,” emphasizing the importance of the “traditional and normal family: mother, father, and many children.”
Seeking Allies in Brussels
Despite their growing influence, the Patriots for Europe recognize the need for broader alliances to advance their agenda in the EU. With 86 seats in the European Parliament, they are the third-largest group but hold only one head of government among the EU’s 27 member states.
Le Pen expressed optimism about collaborating with other conservative groups, including Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR). She highlighted shared opposition to the Green Deal as a potential unifying issue. Salvini, Italy’s deputy prime minister, urged the center-right European People’s Party (EPP) to abandon its alliance with socialists and liberals, saying, “The EPP must choose between a disastrous past and a future of change.”
Krzysztof Bosak, leader of Spain’s Vox party and president of the Patriots, emphasized the importance of building coalitions, even with groups like Germany’s Alternative for Germany (AfD). “We have to know how to put aside our differences and live with them without that impeding constant cooperation in the face of common enemies,” he said.
Behind Closed Doors
Prior to the rally, the leaders held closed-door meetings and attended a gala dinner featuring Kevin Roberts, president of the Heritage Foundation, a prominent U.S. conservative think tank. The event underscored the growing transatlantic ties between Europe’s far-right and American conservatives, united in their vision of a nationalist, traditionalist future.
As Europe’s far-right gains momentum, the Madrid rally served as a powerful statement of their ambitions. With Trump’s influence as a rallying cry, they are determined to reshape the continent’s political landscape, challenging the EU’s established order and pushing for a conservative revolution.