U. von der Leyen rejects the possibility of forming a coalition with “Putin’s friends” after the EP elections

“Those who defend our values ​​against Putin’s friends are the ones I want to work with,” she said at a press conference in Brussels alongside EPP group leader Manfred Weber.

U. von der Leyen, who announced a few days ago that she will seek a second term as the head of the EC, was asked if she would cooperate with a parliamentary majority made up of right-wing European conservatives and reformists.

Noting that the elections will change the composition of European Parliament factions, she drew a red line for parties considered pro-Russian.

“It is important that I work with pro-European, pro-NATO, pro-Ukrainian groups that clearly support our democratic values,” she replied.

“Putin’s friends: impossible,” U. von der Leyen added.

Elections to the EP will be held on June 6-9.

Polls show that far-right parties will make a big advance in the elections.

One of the two far-right blocs in the parliament, Identity and Democracy (ID), includes several parties considered pro-Russia. These include Marine Le Pen’s National Rally (RN) in France and Matteo Salvini’s League in Italy.

The second right-wing bloc, the European Conservatives and Reformists group, has so far maintained an anti-Moscow stance, but that may soften if the pro-Russian Hungarian leader Viktor Orban’s Fidesz party joins it after the election, which has expressed a desire to do so.