Right-populist EU party ESN faces potential ban over alleged breach of EU values

The European Sovereignist Nations (ESN) party, which includes Germany's Alternative für Deutschland (AfD), is facing a possible ban from the European Union. The threat comes amid allegations that the party has been violating core EU values. The case has been reported by Politico.

The right-populist European party European Sovereignist Nations (ESN) is facing a potential ban from the European Union, according to a report by Politico. The party, which counts Germany's far-right Alternative für Deutschland among its members, stands accused of disregarding fundamental EU values.

ESN is one of several nationalist and Eurosceptic groupings that gained ground in the European Parliament following last year's elections. Its inclusion of the AfD — Germany's controversial hard-right party — has drawn sustained scrutiny from EU institutions and mainstream political forces across the bloc.

The alleged violations centre on the party's supposed failure to uphold the democratic and legal principles that underpin European Union membership and political recognition. EU rules require recognised European parties to respect and promote the values enshrined in Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union, which include democracy, rule of law, and human rights.

A ban, if pursued, would represent an extraordinary step — one rarely taken against any formally recognised pan-European political organisation. It would strip ESN of its official EU party status and the associated public funding that comes with it, significantly curtailing its operational capacity ahead of future European elections.