With Expulsion from ECR Looming, Luxembourg Party Reportedly Eyes Patriots

ADR MEP Fernand Kartheiser

Luxembourg’s Alternative Democratic Reform (ADR) party is facing growing uncertainty after its only Member of the European Parliament, Fernand Kartheiser, was expelled from the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group. As the Patriots are gaining traction across the EU, speculation has emerged about where ADR might land next.

The expulsion followed Kartheiser’s decision to visit Moscow, a move that defied his group allies in Brussels. Kartheiser’s solo trip to Russia has not only led to his personal removal but has also prompted senior ECR officials to call for ADR’s complete expulsion from the group. One ECR insider told Politico’s Playbook that the group’s president, Mateusz Morawiecki of Poland’s Law and Justice (PiS) party, was particularly angered by the timing of the visit, which coincided with Poland’s presidential election. “I suspect Morawiecki is more focused on domestic politics right now, but he won’t have forgotten this,” the unnamed source added.

Rumors are circulating that ADR might align with the sovereigntist Patriots for Europe (PfE) group.

Fact

Patriots for Europe is the third-largest group in the European Parliament. The group was founded on June 30, 2024 at a press conference in Vienna by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán (Fidesz), former Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO) and Austria’s former Interior Minister Herbert Kickl, as well as MEP Harald Vilimsky (both Freedom Party of Austria). Jordan Bardella (National Assembly) is the group’s president, while Kinga Gál (Fidesz) is its first vice-president.

According to Playbook, two sources confirmed that PfE had approached the Luxembourg party for talks. However, ADR leader Alexandra Schoos dismissed the rumors. “We as a party are still members of the ECR,” she said. “We don’t want to attend any other group because the differences are too big. We are sharing the values of the ECR.”

Schoos indicated that the party is prepared to consider all options should they be expelled from the ECR. However, she made it clear that no definitive plans are in place.

“Worst-case scenario, maybe if we get expelled, we might not adhere to another political group,” she told Playbook. “As a party, we are deciding what European political family we want to belong to — we are currently checking. So far, there are no other discussions planned regarding getting a membership of one of the other groups,” she explained.

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