Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy
Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy (EFDD or EFD²) was a Eurosceptic[9] and populist political group in the European Parliament. The EFDD group was a continuation for the Eighth European Parliament of the Europe of Freedom and Democracy (EFD) group that existed during the Seventh European Parliament, with significant changes to group membership.
Europe of Freedom
and Direct Democracy
Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy
EFDD
ELDD
Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy Group in the European Parliament
Alliance for Direct Democracy in Europe (2014–16)
24 June 2014
26 June 2019
Five Star Direct Democracy (partially)
Nigel Farage (UKIP/BXP)
David Borrelli (M5S) (Until 2017)
In 2017, it was one of the seven political groups of the parliament. This group was opposed to European integration.[10] Twenty-four out of its 47 MEPs were from the United Kingdom, representing the UK Independence Party.
Its president was British politician Nigel Farage, who was first elected for the UK Independence Party, and then became an independent in 2018 before becoming leader of the Brexit Party in 2019. David Borrelli of the Italian Five Star Movement was co-president until January 2017,[10] when he had to resign the co-presidency after a failed attempt by his party to transfer to the ALDE group.[11]
The parliamentary group was originally linked to the Alliance for Direct Democracy in Europe (ADDE); however, the Alliance later ceased activities in 2016 after an auditors' inquiry found misspending of EU funds and was eventually dissolved on 24 May 2017.[12][13] Nonetheless, the group continued its activities until 26 June 2019, when it was also dissolved following the 2019 European Parliament election.[14]
Political positions[edit]
The bloc's primary goal was the reduction in the powers of, or even the dissolution of, the European Union. Nigel Farage, the bloc's president, was also the leader of the UK Independence Party and latterly the Brexit Party, both of which advocated for the immediate withdrawal of the UK from the European Union.
During the European Parliament debate about Catalan independence referendum in 2017, the EFDD, by the voice of Ray Finch considered that European Union should have made some intervention against Spain to protect Catalan independence. He considered that this referendum led to human rights abuses. According to him, people should have the right to vote even when the referendum is illegal.[49]
Media related to Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy at Wikimedia Commons