EP president opens door to cooperation with the far-right as centrist majority falters

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola has acknowledged that the “centrist” powers that have governed Brussels for decades may no longer be able to secure a majority in the legislative process, opening the door to cooperation with the right.

According to a report in POLITICO, Metsola spoke at an EU summit one day after Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) rejected a landmark proposal to reduce bureaucratic hurdles for businesses, amid disagreements over how much the EU should scale back its laws.

This vote sparked anger in national capitals. “The decision of the European Parliament yesterday is unacceptable,” said German Chancellor Friedrich Merz upon his arrival at the EU leaders’ summit in Brussels, adding that the decision was “a fatal mistake and must be corrected.”

However, Metsola expressed confidence that Parliament would find a way to reach agreements on important issues, even if it meant departing from its traditional working methods.

Metsola did not use the words “right,” “right-wing,” or “far-right” in her press conference or in her address to the leaders at Thursday’s summit.

“The majority is always strongest from the center outwards, because that is the way to take Europe forward. But if that is not possible, I know that this House will still deliver. Especially since the prime ministers at the table were unanimous that this needs to happen,” she said at a press conference after meeting with EU leaders.

The EP’s major centrist groups—the European People’s Party (the group of Ursula von der Leyen and Metsola), Renew, and the Socialists and Democrats—had agreed to support the bureaucracy proposal. But in the secret ballot, a number of Socialist MEPs rebelled and voted against the deal.

MEPs will vote again in November, and the EPP may have to seek support from the far-right to pass the deregulation package.

When asked how she felt about needing the support of the right-wing to back the law, Metsola said she would prefer the majority to come from the center but acknowledged that this would not always be possible.

“To be very clear, the message I got from the Council was, you get the numbers where you can find them. I have an institutional responsibility, I have to make majorities work, and I have to make groups work in a coherent manner,” Metsola said.

“Some positions cannot be reconciled, but for most, it is possible,” said Metsola, adding that centrist forces have reached agreements on issues like defense funding and agricultural policy but have struggled to agree on migration and green simplification.

Metsola added that the issue is not about majorities but “pragmatism.”

For decades, the main centrist powers have found ways to work together and exclude the far-right. However, right-wing groups made significant gains in the 2024 EU elections, and working with these groups is becoming progressively less taboo.

It appears there will be many more simplification proposals for Parliament to vote on.

In a letter dated October 20 obtained by POLITICO, the leaders of Germany, France, Italy, and other countries requested a “continuous flow” of simplification proposals from the European Commission.