German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, a member of the CDU, has placed responsibility on the Christian Democrat and European People’s Party (EVP) group leader Manfred Weber, a CSU member. Merz’s statement follows reports that the EVP faction and several right‑wing groups in the European Parliament had coordinated in a chat group and during meetings of individual deputies.
“I’m not cooperating with the far‑right in the European Parliament” Merz said on Monday. “All decisions that need to be made there have a majority that does not include the so‑called sovereignists, i.e. it also excludes the German AfD representatives. The European Parliament already has majorities to that effect, and the EVP group chair knows that we do not want that cooperation” he added.
Merz confirmed he and CSU leader Markus Söder share the view that the apparent staff‑level arrangements are unacceptable. “I, like Markus Söder, expect this will be halted and that there may be consequences” Merz said. “Manfred Weber is now accountable for that”.
Earlier in March, EVP members, together with representatives of right‑wing factions, voted in the relevant committee at the European Parliament for a legislative proposal that would send rejected asylum seekers to deportation facilities outside the European Union.