Mostly more leftwing than the SD, but includes some Green parties
Prominent parties: Podemos (Spain), Sinn Féin (UK/Ireland)
GREENSEFA – Greens
Example leader
Nicola Sturgeon
Includes most of Europe’s Green parties, and some other left liberal members
Prominent parties: SNP (UK), Most Green parties
ALDE – Liberal Democrats
Example leader
Guy Verhofstadt
Mostly centrists, but includes pro-business liberals such as Germany’s FDP
Prominent parties: Liberal Democrats (UK)
ENF – Nationalists
Example leader
Matteo Salvini
Hard right parties
Prominent parties: Lega (Italy), Ralliement National (France)
EFDD – Freedom and Direct Democracy
Example leader
Nigel Farage
Populists, often hard to place on left-right axes
Prominent parties: Brexit Party (UK), Five Star Movement (Italy)
ECR – Conservatives and Reformers
Example leader
Theresa May
These are rightwing parties who are often more critical of the EU than the EPP
Prominent parties: Conservatives (UK)
EPP – European People’s Party
Example leader
Angela Merkel
This is the traditional centre-right bloc
Prominent parties: CDU (Germany)
NA – Non-aligned
Example leader
Jean-Marie Le Pen
These are parties or MEPs who decline to align with any of the European parliamentary groups.
Prominent parties: DUP (UK)
Others – Others
Example leader
Heidi Allen
This includes parties who are new to the parliament, and members of groups which are too small to qualify.
Prominent parties: Change UK (UK)
State of parliament
Source: European Parliament / Kantar Public. Change figures are based on the results of the 2014 election and do not take into account parties who moved grouping during the parliament. For this reason, change figures are not given for the Nationalist group, which did not exist as such at the last election.
Example leaderPedro SánchezThis is the traditional centre-left blocProminent parties: Labour (UK)GUENGL – Nordic Green Left
Example leaderAlexis TsiprasMostly more leftwing than the SD, but includes some Green partiesProminent parties: Podemos (Spain), Sinn Féin (UK/Ireland)GREENSEFA – Greens
Example leaderNicola SturgeonIncludes most of Europe’s Green parties, and some other left liberal membersProminent parties: SNP (UK), Most Green partiesALDE – Liberal Democrats
Example leaderGuy VerhofstadtMostly centrists, but includes pro-business liberals such as Germany’s FDPProminent parties: Liberal Democrats (UK)ENF – Nationalists
Example leaderMatteo SalviniHard right partiesProminent parties: Lega (Italy), Ralliement National (France)EFDD – Freedom and Direct Democracy
Example leaderNigel FaragePopulists, often hard to place on left-right axesProminent parties: Brexit Party (UK), Five Star Movement (Italy)ECR – Conservatives and Reformers
Example leaderTheresa MayThese are rightwing parties who are often more critical of the EU than the EPPProminent parties: Conservatives (UK)EPP – European People’s Party
Example leaderAngela MerkelThis is the traditional centre-right blocProminent parties: CDU (Germany)NA – Non-aligned
Example leaderJean-Marie Le PenThese are parties or MEPs who decline to align with any of the European parliamentary groups.Prominent parties: DUP (UK)Others – Others
Example leaderHeidi AllenThis includes parties who are new to the parliament, and members of groups which are too small to qualify.Prominent parties: Change UK (UK)
