All European Political Parties are broad churches. Some are broader than others.
An important part of a group’s influence is their loyalty to the group line when they vote.
In the last Parliament, the Liberal GRoup ALDE, now Renew, on environmental issues were often divided.
That division looks like it has returned.
Renew is a by any definition a broad church from Social Liberals to Classical liberals.
In their group, they have parties that oppose each other back home (D66 and VVD in the Netherlands).
On broad issues the Renew Group is loyal.
See the chart below from Vote Watch.
Yet, when it comes to sensitive substance issues, the group divides.
See Vote Watch chart below.
If the UK leaves, the departure of the UK’s liberal democrats will remove a block that sides with the German liberals and their allies.
Are the political fragmentation and the concoction of “broad churches” from 28 soon, hopefully, 27 traditions within the EP behind the irrationality and unpredictability that besets the EU project?
Morris, Watching the House of Commons live, it is clear that many mainstream Parties are broad churches. Those that don’t have diversity are more likened to cults. Aaron