Far-right Patriots party picks Vox’s Santiago Abascal as president

Santiago Abascal was elected president of the European far-right Patriots party on Saturday.

Abascal, 48, has been leader of the far-right Vox party in Spain since 2014 and has served as a Spanish MP since 2019.

Following his election during the pan-European party’s general assembly in Paris, Abascal called on the Patriots to capitalize on the June EU election and to “promote a frontal and total response to globalism.” He also vowed to make Europe “great, prosperous, safe and free again.”

“Under Abascal’s leadership, the party aims to solidify this alternative majority, challenging the traditional coalition behind the [center-right] European People’s Party and the socialist bloc” in the European Parliament, the party said in a statement.

“Abascal’s presidency, backed by his strong relationships with other parties and leaders across the Americas, is expected to significantly enhance collaborative efforts in defending national sovereignty, promoting prosperity, fostering mutual respect, and protecting freedom,” the statement added.

The Patriots party gathers 11 national parties , including France’s National Rally, the Netherlands’ Party for Freedom, Hungary’s Fidesz and Italy’s Lega, and was created following the June EU election. It also represents members of the European Parliament from the Patriots for Europe group, which is the third-largest force in the hemicycle with 86 MEPs.

Hungarian MEP Kinga Gál, a Fidesz member, was elected vice president of the party.