The Movement (populist group)

The Movement is a nonprofit organization founded by Steve Bannon to promote economic nationalism and right-wing populism in Europe. The organization is expected to hire 10 full-time staff in Brussels before the European Parliament election in 2019.^[2][3] In January 2017, Mischaël Modrikamen, leader of the Belgian People's Party, officially registered the group.^[4][5]

Background

Bannon initially discussed his plans for the organization with The Daily Beast, saying he wanted to create a populist "supergroup" bloc that could win up to a third of all 700+ MEP seats. He said he thought of the idea when he was invited to speak at an event hosted by Marine Le Pen.^[6] Bannon also believes that Sweden's 2018 elections created the perfect timing to launch The Movement.^[7]

The Movement stands as a counterpoint to George Soros' Open Society. Bannon has referred to Soros as "evil but brilliant", and expressed a desire to promote nationalism instead of globalism.^[6]

Interest and support

In July 2018, Bannon and other former and current staff of Donald Trump met with the Prime Minister of Republika Srpska, Željka Cvijanović, in Washington, D.C., attempting to expand influence in the Balkans.^[8][9]

The Movement has attracted the attention of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who spoke positively of the group.^[10] It was reported in September 2018 that Italy's Matteo Salvini had joined Bannon's new eurosceptic network.^[11] UKIP stated they will work with the group.^[12] Giorgia Meloni, the leader of Brothers of Italy, has said she expects to officially join The Movement later in September 2018.^[1]

Since then, The Movement has also attracted the attention of Geert Wilders, leader of the biggest opposition party in the Netherlands, the eurosceptic Party for Freedom, and Thierry Baudet, leader of another eurosceptic opposition party in the Netherlands Forum for Democracy.^[13] Wilders said he has arranged to meet Bannon in the Netherlands to discuss the group.^[7]

It is reported France's National Rally party, led by Marine Le Pen, will be joining The Movement.^[14]

Luigi Di Maio, leader of the Italian eurosceptic party M5S, recently met with Bannon and spoke positively of The Movement, although he remains ambivalent on whether or not he will join.^[15]

Criticism

Despite gains made by the group, the co-leader of the Alternative for Germany, Alexander Gauland rejected The Movement as an American conception and criticized its projections. He stated: "Mr Bannon will not succeed in forging an alliance of the like-minded for the European elections" citing what he believes to be their diverging viewpoints.^[16] The next day, the Freedom Party of Austria's secretary general Harald Vilimsky stated his party, like Gauland's, is also unwilling to cooperate with Bannon, reiterating the party's independence and rejecting American influence in the populist movements of Europe.^[17]

UKIP leader Gerard Batten stated in September 2018 that his party has no intentions of joining The Movement, saying UKIP "doesn't fit" into what Bannon proposes across Europe, and the party will instead pursue aims "for the British people".^[18]

In October 2018, Marine Le Pen downplayed former White House strategist Steve Bannon's plans for The Movement, saying that only Europeans would be "the political force behind the EU elections (...) to save Europe".^[19]

Collaborators

Name			Country	Ideology	Position	Leader	MEPs	EP Group
	PP	People’s Party	Belgium	National conservatism	Right-wing	Mischaël Modrikamen	0 / 21	None
	LN	League	Italy	Right-wing populism	Right-wing	Matteo Salvini	6 / 73	ENF
	FdI	Brothers of Italy	Italy	National conservatism	Right-wing	Giorgia Meloni	0 / 73	None

Incoming

Name			Country	Ideology	Position	Leader	MEPs	EP Group
	NR	National Rally	France	French nationalism	Right-wing	Marine Le Pen	16 / 74	ENF

References