Leftist parties in Brussels are growing increasingly anxious that their grip on EU politics could unravel if the CDU-led European People’s Party (EPP) aligns more closely with the Right. This follows Germany’s historic parliamentary vote on migration, which failed to pass with the backing of the centrist CDU and the national conservative AfD, supported by a majority of Germans.
The Left’s fears are heightened by the growing tendency for center-right parties across Europe to form coalitions with conservatives, as seen in Austria, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Though it’s still early, the shift is clear—Europe’s political barriers are slowly eroding as voters shift to the Right. The Left’s biggest concern? Losing their narrative of conservatives as “far-right extremists,” only fit for isolation.
A major flashpoint is the Green Deal, with left-wing parties worried the EPP might grant the Right even a small win on climate targets under the new Competitiveness Compass. However, the conservatives—united in their push to suspend EU climate policies—have yet to get the EPP’s support.
In an attempt to keep the EPP firmly aligned with the Left, German socialists (SPD) added a last-minute debate to the European Parliament agenda, titled “Collaboration between conservatives and far-right as a threat for competitiveness in the EU.” The move was designed to shame the EPP into sticking with the Left. It worked to some extent, with CDU MEP Daniel Caspary quickly denying any future cooperation with the AfD, stressing that the CDU’s shift on migration and climate was meant to prevent the rise of “extremists.”
Still, Leftists continued to attack the EPP for any hint of cooperation with the Right. German socialist Katarina Barley warned the CDU not to forget Germany’s Nazi past, while French MEP Sandro Gozi of the Renew group cautioned that aligning with the Right would alienate the Left and poison EU politics. The Greens were even more harsh, accusing conservatives of enabling racism, homophobia, and “bizarre culture wars” under the guise of free speech.
Meanwhile, conservative MEPs weren’t fazed. Danish MEP Anders Vistisen mocked the Left for blaming the Right for EU competitiveness issues, pointing out that national conservatives have long been excluded from decision-making. The real problem, he argued, lies in the 1,300 EU laws passed since 2009, which have stifled Europe’s economy and kept energy prices high.
Czech MEP Klara Dostalova added her own frustration, noting that while energy prices soar, the Left’s main concern remains conservative alliances. ECR Vice President Carlo Fidanza also pushed back against the Left’s labeling of conservatives as “far-right,” calling it a tactic to discredit political opponents and avoid real discussion about the EU’s competitiveness, which he argues is being hampered by excessive regulations and misguided climate policies.
