On Thursday 25 January, Frenchwoman Valérie Hayer was elected by acclamation to chair the Renew Europe group in the European Parliament. She succeeds her compatriot Stéphane Séjourné, recently appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs (see EUROPE 13324/1).
A specialist in budgetary issues in Parliament since 2019, Ms Hayer becomes the second woman to chair the centrist group, after Simone Veil.
In an initial exchange with the press, she emphasised two objectives: “to maintain and strengthen our central force until April, because there are still some important issues to be dealt with (...) and to continue to structure our Renew political platform, which brings us together, ahead of the European elections”.
A member of the Renaissance party, the new chairwoman of the centre-right group was congratulated by the other members of the Renew Europe group, namely the ALDE and EDP parties, not to mention the non-affiliated members.
“Her commitment, motivation and leadership will be vital for our political group”, commented the EDP via the X social network.
Acting chairman following Mr Séjourné's departure, Dutchman Malik Azmani had also expressed an interest in taking over the group’s chairmanship, but the ongoing negotiations on a coalition government in the Netherlands between his party (the liberal VVD) and Geert Wilders’ far-right PVV party did not please many Renew Europe members.
Noting that he would not be able to muster a majority, he withdrew from the race (see EUROPE 1335/42), leaving Ms Hayer as the sole candidate.
Following this internal election, the Dutchman assured us that Ms Hayer would be a formidable leader. “Over the next six months, you will lead our group and ensure that we work together as a strong and united family, ahead of the upcoming elections”, he said.
However, the latest polls predict a significant loss of seats in the European Parliament for the Renew Europe political family, which currently has 101. The group could even lose its position as the third largest political force in the Chamber to the far-right group Identity and Democracy.
On this point, Ms Hayer felt that the current polls were not yet able to take account of future dynamics within the parties making up the political family.
She said she was “confident for the coming months” with the Renew Europe group “maintained as an important force in the European Parliament”, convinced that her political family is “the most identified in the fight against extremes and populists”.
Asked about the possibility of a coalition with the Christian Democrats of the EPP, the sovereignists of the ECR and Renew Europe following the elections, the new President was more evasive than her predecessor (see EUROPE 13324/1), saying simply: “We have major differences of opinion with our colleagues in the ECR”.
Also asked about a possible ambition to head the list of the French Renaissance party for the European elections, Ms Hayer felt that “we should let her settle in at the head of this group”. (Original version in French by Pauline Denys)