Santiago Abascal was elected president of the far-right European party of the Patriots on Saturday.
Abascal, 48, has been leader of the far-right party Vox in Spain since 2014 and a Spanish MP since 2019.
Following his election during the party’s general assembly in Paris, Abascal called on the far-right grouping to capitalize on the June EU elections and “promote a frontal and total response to globalism.” He also vowed to make Europe “great, prosperous, safe and free again.”
“Under Abascal’s leadership, the party aims to solidify this alternative majority, challenging the traditional coalition behind the [center-right] European People’s Party and the socialist bloc” in the European Parliament, the party said in a statement.
“Abascal’s presidency, backed by his strong relationships with other parties and leaders across the Americas, is expected to significantly enhance collaborative efforts in defending national sovereignty, promoting prosperity, fostering mutual respect, and protecting freedom,” the statement added.
The European party of the Patriots gathers 11 national parties, including France’s National Rally, the Netherlands’ Party for Freedom, Hungary’s Fidesz and Italy’s Lega, and was created following the EU elections in June. It also represents members of the European Parliament from the Patriots for Europe group, which is the third-largest force in the hemicycle with 86 MEPs.
Hungarian MEP Kinga Gál, a Fidesz member, was elected vice president of the party.
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