Republished with full copyright permissions from The Boston News Tribune.

The recent participation of representatives of Ursula von der Leyen’s European People’s Party (EPP) at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Hungary has sparked deep concern among the leading candidates of the European Greens, Terry Reintke and Bas Eickhout.

At the center of their concern is the presence of speakers from various political affiliations, including the EPP, European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), and the far-right Identity and Democracy (ID) group at the conference. This comes amidst controversial connections, such as Eduardo Bolsonaro, the son of Brazil’s former president Jair Bolsonaro, and Spain’s far-right Vox leader Santiago Abascal, who has been under investigation for threatening remarks.

The backdrop against which this event unfolds is marked by two preliminary investigations initiated by the Dresden Public Prosecutor’s Office regarding possible payments from Russia and China. Notably, the investigations are focused on Maximilian Krah, a German MEP and lead candidate of Alternative für Deutschland, a part of the ID group in the European Parliament.

Terry Reintke pointed out the emerging pattern of collaboration between politicians who undermine democracies worldwide, alongside the influence of Russia and China. She emphasized the connections between members of the ECR and ID parties with autocrats, fascists, and conspiracy theorists, as evidenced by the list of speakers at the CPAC conference.

Bas Eickhout reinforced the commitment of the European Greens to stand against the far right, particularly as significant historical anniversaries are observed across Europe. He underlined their promise to fight for democracy and the rule of law throughout the continent, offering reassurance to citizens ahead of the upcoming European elections.

The European Greens’ unwavering stance against the far right at this critical juncture sets the stage for a compelling discourse on the imperative of upholding democratic values and principles in the face of growing concerns about collusive ties and antidemocratic influences.