Rainbow Group (1989–1994)
Encyclopedia
The Rainbow Group in the European Parliament was a regionalist
political group with representation in the European Parliament
between 1989 and 1994.
split. The Greens went off to form the "Green Group", whilst the Regionalists stayed in Rainbow.
This second Rainbow Group was the highpoint of the European Free Alliance
(EFA) to that date.
But the 1994 elections saw a considerable reduction in Regionalist representation in the Parliament, with only the Canary Isles Autonomists
, Lega Nord, Scottish National Party
and People's Union
keeping their MEPs. But Lega Nord had been suspended from the EFA following its decision to join the Italian coalition government alongside the right-wing
National Alliance
. The weakened EFA was no longer able to maintain their own group, and instead allied themselves with the members of the French Radical Party of the Left to form the Group of the European Radical Alliance.
Regionalism (politics)
Regionalism is a term used in international relations. Regionalism also constitutes one of the three constituents of the international commercial system...
political group with representation in the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
between 1989 and 1994.
History
In 1989 the previous Rainbow GroupRainbow Group (1984–1989)
The Rainbow Group: Federation of the Green Alternative European Links, Agalev-Ecolo, the Danish People's Movement against Membership of the European Community, and the European Free Alliance, in the European Parliament was a Green, far left and Regionalist political group with seats in the...
split. The Greens went off to form the "Green Group", whilst the Regionalists stayed in Rainbow.
This second Rainbow Group was the highpoint of the European Free Alliance
European Free Alliance
The European Free Alliance is a European political party. It consists of various national-level political parties in Europe which advocate either full political independence , or some form of devolution or self-governance for their country or region...
(EFA) to that date.
But the 1994 elections saw a considerable reduction in Regionalist representation in the Parliament, with only the Canary Isles Autonomists
Canarian Coalition
The Canarian Coalition , abbreviated to CC, is a Canarian nationalist and liberal political party in the Canary Islands of Spain. The party aim is for greater autonomy for the islands, but short of independence. The party has governed the Canary Islands since 1993...
, Lega Nord, Scottish National Party
Scottish National Party
The Scottish National Party is a social-democratic political party in Scotland which campaigns for Scottish independence from the United Kingdom....
and People's Union
People's Union (Belgium)
People's Union was a Belgian political party, formed in 1954 as a successor to the "Christian Flemish People's Union", an electoral alliance of Flemish nationalists....
keeping their MEPs. But Lega Nord had been suspended from the EFA following its decision to join the Italian coalition government alongside the right-wing
National Alliance
National Alliance (Italy)
National Alliance was a conservative political party in Italy.Gianfranco Fini was the leader of the party since its foundation in 1995, however he stepped down in 2008 after being elected to the nominally non-partisan post of President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies and was succeeded by...
. The weakened EFA was no longer able to maintain their own group, and instead allied themselves with the members of the French Radical Party of the Left to form the Group of the European Radical Alliance.
Sources
- "Regionalist Parties in Western Europe", ISBN 0415164370, de Winter & Türsan 1998
- Development of Political Groups in the European Parliament
- Europe Politique
- Democracy in the European Parliament
- European Parliament MEP Archives