The election of Nathalie Loiseau as chair of the new European Democracy Shield (EUDS) committee sparked backlash from anti-globalist and independent lawmakers, accusing the process of being a “backroom deal.”
The inaugural meeting, held on Monday, saw Loiseau (France/Renew) take the chair, with vice-chairs allocated to MEPs from the centre-left and centre-right, excluding far-right factions from key positions.
Critics say the EUDS is nothing more than a supranational body that will allow the EU to cancel elections in its member states if they dislike the results.
This exclusion is part of a broader “cordon sanitaire” imposed by pro-European parties that left smaller groups, like the third-largest Patriots for Europe, unable to challenge decisions. Dutch MEP Marieke Ehlers, representing Patriots for Europe, expressed frustration, pointing out that their group should have had the floor first. Portuguese MEP António Tânger Corrêa, sidelined from the election, criticized the process as undemocratic, calling it a “disgrace for the European people.”
In response, Belgian MEP Kathleen Van Brempt (S&D) defended the vote, stating that a majority was needed to win. Loiseau, referring to the erosion of the rule of law in EU countries where Patriots hold power, hoped the committee could work in unity, despite political differences.
The Patriots also condemned their exclusion from leadership positions in the newly formed Housing Committee, with Hungarian MEP György Hölvényi blaming the left for blocking them.
Cypriot MEP and YouTuber Fidías Panayiótou, who lost a bid for first vice-chair, expressed disappointment over the “backroom politics” and claimed the election system didn’t reflect true democratic principles. Although he lost, Fidías said his goal was to expose the flawed process.
The so-called European Democracy Shield claims it focus on countering foreign and domestic threats to democracy, aiming to strengthen EU institutions’ resilience.
