Kartheiser accepts a possible break with EU faction

If it gets hard, Fernand Kartheiser, EU Parliamentarians, is ready to leave his faction of the European Conservatives and Reformers (EKR) in the EU Parliament. This explained Kartheiser On Friday morning opposite RTL: « We have accepted an election program and this line is the promise of the ADR to our voters – and we won’t break it. »

Specifically, it is about keeping the ADR for the Russian attack war against Ukraine. Unlike the majority of the EKR parliamentary group-which includes Fratelli d’Italia, the Pis Party and the Belgian N-VA-the ADR also sees the West responsibility for the war in Eastern Europe.

Kartheiser even speaks of a « deputy war ». The ADR rejects military help for Ukraine and western sanctions against Russia. In addition, the right -wing conservative Luxembourg party pleads for a quick peace – however, the ADR seems to be indifferent to whether it is a dictation peace that equates to a crew of Ukraine.

In addition, Kartheiser regularly uses Russian narratives. On Friday morning he expressed doubts about the reality of the Russian attacks on civilians in Sumy. At least 35 people were killed in the attack on the northeast Tekrainian city.

EKR is increasingly undecided

This position, which Kartheiser also openly represents in Strasbourg and Brussels, caused resentment within his EU parliamentary group. When he published his views in December 2024 in a newspaper near the Kremlin sanctioned by the EU, the EKR faction reacted formally: The parliamentary group management turned to Kartheiser in writing and announced an internal examination to check his attitude. « The position of the EKR is clear: it decidedly rejects Russian aggression in Ukraine, » said a spokesman for the parliamentary group to the « Luxembourg word ». « No other attitude is compatible with membership or belonging to the EKR. »

A few weeks later, the group’s co-chair, the Italian Nicola Procaccini, also reported public to whatt. A group exclusion is « possible ».

But this threatening setting apparently leaves Fernand Kartheiser cold. He stays with his position. « Even if the price would be the exit from the EKR-which we do not want, » the ADR politician told RTL.

Kartheiser’s self -confident appearance may be related to developments within the EKR. Kartheiser also knows that: « The EKR is in the process of developing and I have the impression that their positions are becoming increasingly compatible with ours, » he said on Friday morning.

The wind seems to be turning in particular within the large, toning parties of the EKR family. The decisive factor is the attitude of the Italian post -fascists Fratelli d’Italia and its chairman Giorgia Meloni. Meloni, who recently visited the US President in Washingtonthe Ukraine question has recently been surprisingly reluctant.

Her credibility at European level has so far been based on her determined support for Ukraine. This made it possible for her to be perceived as a constructive partner in the EU Council and to build a good relationship with the EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Since Donald Trump took office, however, she has shown increasing reluctance. Unlike many other EU heads of state and heads, she hardly criticizes Trumps, some of them, sometimes erratic and pro-Russian attitude. The right meloni feels ideologically close to the Republican, and Italy absolutely wants to avoid a trade war with the United States.

In addition, Meloni is under pressure: the “Lega” by Matteo Salvini, her right -wing radical coalition partner, is pursuing a clearly pro -Russian course. All of this could explain Why the EKR has not yet made a decision on Kartheiser’s membership.

The foreign policy orientation of the ADR under Kartheiser also had internal party. At the beginning of April, the former party president and ADR President Robert Mehlen said « immensely disappointed » About his party and said that he didn’t want to have anything to do with her. The reason is Fernand Kartheiser’s « Putin-friendly attitude ».

The MEP rejected the allegations on Friday and referred to the election program – as well as that his position was now the official attitude of the entire party.

In the RTL interview, Kartheiser also said that he shares Donald Trump’s alleged « peace policy », but could not understand his trade policy: « I do not agree. » Kartheiser now hopes for negotiations between the EU and the USA to find a solution on the customs question.