Nigel Farage will “not join” any political alliance in the European Parliament led by the party of Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, he told POLITICO in a statement.
The Brexit Party leader has been considering his options in the new parliament after his Brexit Party won the EU election in the U.K. with 29 seats. Last week, he met Marco Zanni, a member of Salvini’s League party to see whether an alliance between the Italian and British parties was possible.
“Following a brief social meeting with a member of the ENF Group [Salvini’s group] last week there has been much speculation, fuelled by that individual, that the Brexit Party will join them in their European Parliament group,” Farage’s statement said.
“I can confirm that this is not the case and that the Brexit Party will not be joining the ENF Group,” he added.
His spokesperson said Farage, who is still the leader of the Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy “will plan to rebuild the EFDD.” That group was formed primarily of his former UKIP party (which won no seats in the election,) as well as the Italian Five Star party. But the group has lost MEPs, including from the French Les Patriotes party and it is unclear whether it will hold together.
Joining with other parties to form a group in the European Parliament gives access to EU funds and influence via committee posts.