The European Parliament has moved to hold the Patriots for Europe (PfE) group responsible for more than €4 million allegedly misused by the dissolved Identity and Democracy (ID) group in the last legislature. The move, approved by the Committee on Budgetary Control (CONT), claims “economic continuity” between ID and PfE, even though the PfE was created after the 2024 elections.
According to a report drafted by German MEP Niclas Herbst (EPP), Parliament’s financial services (DG FINS) say at least €4,333,635.78 was wrongly spent by ID between 2019 and 2024. The report says that the Patriots for Europe group should now be considered “the substantive economic continuation” of ID, making it responsible for the funds.
The reasoning is based on alleged overlaps in staff and members between the two groups. Herbst said that the Parliament “cannot allow political families to simply rebrand themselves and escape responsibilities.” If upheld, the Bureau of the Parliament—led by President Roberta Metsola and the vice-presidents—would have the power to enforce repayment or legal action.
The Patriots for Europe have rejected what they call a politically motivated effort to discredit the third largest group in the European Parliament. In two statements issued this summer, the group led by Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz and its allies denounced the campaign as a coordinated effort by the Left, the liberals, and the EPP to use financial procedures as a weapon.
“The attempt to link the Patriots for Europe Group to the alleged financial or legal responsibilities of the former ID Group is entirely unacceptable,” stated Hungarian MEP Tamás Deutsch, PfE’s coordinator on the Budgetary Control Committee.
Financial oversight must be conducted objectively and in full accordance with the European Parliament’s rules—not selectively applied for political purposes. Such actions undermine the integrity of the Parliament and the trust of European citizens.
Patriots said only five of their 14 delegations had ever belonged to ID, and out of 85 members, only 21 were previously part of that group. “We are not a continuation of ID. This is a new political force that represents millions of Europeans,” the press release said.
The group also noted that the ID formation had already reimbursed over €2.6 million to the Parliament, proving that its financial liabilities had been addressed. “The suggestion that we were created to avoid paying old debts is baseless and defamatory,” PfE said.
For PfE, the Parliament is applying double standards in financial checks. In a statement dated September 3rd, the group said that such audits are only conducted when a group dissolves, while the two biggest formations —the Socialists and the European People’s Party— manage budgets of €68.5 million and €85.2 million respectively without facing equivalent scrutiny.
“This is a clear maneuver to fabricate accusations and pressure our Group. They want to eliminate us from the political arena using bureaucratic instruments reminiscent of totalitarian regimes,” said Deutsch. “We will not remain silent and are prepared to use all legal means to defend our integrity.”
The Patriots demanded that all parliamentary groups be subject to the same checks and full transparency on public tenders and service contracts awarded since 2019. “Democracy in action,” they said, cannot mean targeting one group while shielding others.
Whether the Bureau will endorse the CONT opinion remains to be seen, but the case illustrates how financial oversight has become a tool in Europe’s political battles. For the Patriots, the accusations are not about money but about silencing a growing conservative bloc that challenges the Brussels consensus on sovereignty, migration, and values.
