The European People’s Party (EPP) is navigating internal tensions as it strategizes ahead of the upcoming EU elections. The Polish delegation, the group’s second-largest, has recently cautioned it may withdraw its support if maintaining centrist alliances — specifically with the socialists and liberals — becomes untenable.
Party leaders have made it clear that pursuing core policy goals takes precedence over preserving unity with traditional centrist allies. They argue that if far-right parties back EPP proposals, those votes will be accepted without compromise.
This pragmatic stance is also reflected in the draft declaration from the EPP presidency’s congress. The document, obtained by POLITICO, asserts that the EPP must remain practical in choosing partners to ensure delivery of “balanced” policy outcomes. It further portrays the EPP as a “bridge builder” among different political factions.
EPP President Manfred Weber, who has led the party in the European Parliament since 2014, ran unsuccessfully for the position of European Commission president in 2019. He ultimately lost out to Ursula von der Leyen, then Germany’s defense minister, who was picked by EU heads of government.
Rather than contend for the European Parliament presidency — currently held by Roberta Metsola — Weber chose to seek the EPP presidency, a role he secured in 2022. Since then, he has worked closely with national leaders to shape the party’s policy agenda and boost its influence across EU institutions.
Under his guidance, the party crafted the Bucharest Manifesto in preparation for the June elections. The document has already had a significant impact on EU policy-making, pushing von der Leyen’s second-term Commission to take a harder line on migration and dial back some of the more ambitious climate legislation from her original Green Deal agenda. This includes support for several deregulation packages introduced during the current legislative term.
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