On 17 June 2024, after the European Parliament approved tighter rules for removing irregular migrants, a small group of far‑right members rose and repeated a chant that was recorded on TikTok. The video quickly amassed more than one‑million views and was shared widely across social media, news outlets, left‑wing parties and civil‑society organisations, many of which condemned it as hate speech.

Parliamentary response

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola described the incident as “not acceptable”, adding that “The aggressive chanting, jeering, finger‑pointing and filming of members that took place is not acceptable”. She announced that disciplinary measures would be taken and said she would impose sanctions on those responsible.

President Metsola later reiterated that a limit had been crossed and, on 23 June, confirmed that sanctions would be enforced, signalling a test of the Parliament’s willingness to act on extremist conduct.

Political context

The chant occurred during a coalition in which the centre‑right European People’s Party (EPP) worked with nationalist parties to revise the EU deportation framework. The parties involved include France’s National Rally, Germany’s Alternative for Germany (AfD), Italy’s Brothers of Italy, Hungary’s Fidesz and Poland’s Law and Justice, which together hold just over a quarter of the 720 seats in the Parliament.

Swedish MEP Charlie Weimers, identified with the far‑right, announced that “the era of deportations has begun”. The incident followed a pattern of harassment: in April, Swedish MEP Abir Al‑Sahlani filed a police complaint after a Danish far‑right MEP told her to “go home”, and the Parliament has yet to act on a prior complaint from the Renew Europe group about similar behaviour.

Polish MEP Grzegorz Braun was temporarily barred from the Parliament’s security committee after making antisemitic remarks, having previously been sanctioned for anti‑LGBTI comments and for disrupting a minute of silence for Holocaust victims.

Wider concerns and expert analysis

In May, 72 organisations warned President Metsola of a rise in misogynist, sexist, LGBTI‑phobic, racist and antisemitic speech inside the Parliament. The incident has been described by Nicolai von Ondarza, head of EU research at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs, as “a sea change in European politics where a taboo has been broken”. He warned that the new volatility could make legislative outcomes less predictable for citizens and businesses alike, and noted that party alliances are becoming more fluid, meaning the EPP will not automatically support far‑right positions.

The European Trade Union Confederation warned that focusing on “sending them back” distracts from the real issue of why low wages force people to accept precarious jobs. Tightening deportation rules could reduce the pool of low‑paid migrant workers in agriculture, construction and care, potentially raising wages but also risking labour shortages. Consumer groups have warned that any reduction in labour supply could increase living‑cost pressures, especially in countries already facing high inflation.

Implications for the legislative agenda and upcoming elections

The next parliamentary session will test whether President Metsola’s promised sanctions are enforced and whether the EPP continues to align with far‑right factions on migration. The outcome could shape the legislative agenda on asylum and border management and influence the tone of political discourse in Brussels.

Left‑wing and Green parties are pressing for an investigation into whether the AfD’s European Parliament group, Europe of Sovereign Nations, complies with EU fundamental values, a ruling that could strip a €2 million EU subsidy. Ahead of the 2029 European Parliament elections, how extremist rhetoric is handled may shape voter attitudes toward both mainstream and fringe parties.