Thread by @corporateeurope

Today we're publishing an investigation into 10+ authoritarian right-wing parties across Europe. What we've they found:

Cohorts of millionaire backers. Personal enrichment. Fraud investigations. Multi-million loans from Russia. And much more. corporateeurope.org/en/Authoritari… Thread 👇

Authoritarian right-wing parties often brand themselves as anti-elite, anti-establishment. They say they defend ordinary people. But behind their claims we found ties to big business, corruption scandals, enabling tax avoidance and networks of dark money: corporateeurope.org/en/Authoritari…

We also found their EU Parliament voting records often reveal disdain for policies aimed at supporting working people & low income communities - even when Europe's authoritarian right-wing parties claim they will protect the rights of 'ordinary people'. corporateeurope.org/en/Authoritari…

Across Europe, the authoritarian right:
➡️claims to reject 'elites' but relies on their funding & patronage
➡️promises to “clean up politics” but is frequently mixed up in financial scandals
➡️claims to defend working people but voting records often reveal pro-corporate agendas

One of the Kremlin’s best allies in Europe. Prosecuted for funding abuse. Faces fraud allegations. Rassemblement National, formerly Front National, has been rebranded as a party for working people - but their voting record shows disdain for workers' rights corporateeurope.org/en/Authoritari…

Austria’s FPÖ calls itself the Social Homeland Party - but its pro-corporate, anti-worker positions reveal its true colours. @MichaelBonvalot renamed them "The party of the rich" which is more appropriate for a party that cosies up to business interests. corporateeurope.org/en/Authoritari…

As @Lobbycontrol's great investigations reveal, Germany’s AfD is immersed in illegal ‘dark money’ flowing from rich, overseas donors, and channelled via Switzerland. It therefore comes as no surprise that they vote for tax policies that favour the rich. corporateeurope.org/en/Authoritari…

Poland's authoritarian right PiS party, currently in government, claims to stand up for "the needs of hard working people” - yet its MEPs opposed a ‘decent work’ directive, action on gender pay gap, a 25% corporate tax rate, and pan-EU tax evasion action. corporateeurope.org/en/Authoritari…

Bribery allegations. Tight relationships with big business. Corruption scandal. Friends of Salvini with Russian interests being invited to official negotiations with Russia. And a voting record that opposes decent work conditions for all. That's Lega: corporateeurope.org/en/Authoritari…

Direct access to the government for big multinationals, private lobbyists on the payroll, and a forged network of oligarchs - with Órban at the center of it. After almost 10 years in government, Fidesz' prioritisation of corporate interests is blatant. corporateeurope.org/en/Authoritari…

UKIP MEPs often rail against EU corruption, but have repeatedly broken EU funding rules & been forced to repay funds. The party flags an anti-elite rhetoric, but attracts funding from ultra-rich individuals and votes in line with the interests of the rich. corporateeurope.org/en/Authoritari…

The new Nigel Farage-bandwagon, the Brexit Party, appears to be more of the same: with a multi-millionaire as a key backer, and Farage the 2nd MEP (out of 750) with highest side earnings from lucrative side-jobs. corporateeurope.org/en/Authoritari…

Accepts major donation from a US hate group.
Accused of excessive spending.
Climate change denialist.
Worst EP voting record of all parties studied, opposing social & labour protections and progressive tax reform.
That's the Dutch authoritarian right: PVV
corporateeurope.org/en/Authoritari…

Denmark’s authoritarian right, DF, criticises corruption and waste of money. Ironically, the party has been forced to repay misspent EU funds, its political groups remain under investigation for fraud, and it voted against a pan-EU tax evasion agency. corporateeurope.org/en/Authoritari…

Against a 25% corporate tax rate. Against tackling fossil fuel subsidies. @corporateeurope's research shows that Belgium, Sweden and Finland's authoritarian right's voting record is far removed from the interests of citizens.
corporateeurope.org/en/Authoritari…

ANO, initially an anti-corruption movement, is plagued by accusations of misuse of EU funds. Its leader, billionaire Andrej Babiš, is accused of using government for personal enrichment; since he's in power, his personal wealth grows €40 million per month corporateeurope.org/en/Authoritari…