Wagenknecht party and Fico’s Smer tease alliance, but ‘too soon’ for new EP group

Germany’s Alliance Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW) and Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico’s Smer have confirmed a new attempt to strengthen ‘left-conservative’ ties in the European Parliament, but said a new group is still some way off. [...]

BSW’s leader in the Parliament, Fabio De Masi, suggested on Thursday that his party would be open to linking up. 

“We are currently exchanging views on technical cooperation with political forces that are in favour of diplomatic initiatives, public investment and social justice and do not belong to a political group,” De Masi told Euractiv.  

A Smer spokesperson also told Euractiv Slovakia that “MEPs from SMER-SSD are interested in close cooperation with the left-conservative parties, including BSW and Stačilo!” but that “there is no need to comment on the situation further.” 

But De Masi lowered expectations regarding an imminent group launch.

“The conditions for the formation of a parliamentary group do not currently exist and this debate therefore comes too soon,” he said. 
 

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