Imperium Europa approved as political party, Norman Lowell to contest MEP elections

The radically anti-migration group Imperium Europa is now officially a political party, after its registration with the Electoral Commission was approved.

Its far-right leader Norman Lowell will be contesting the European Parliament elections in May and will be its only candidate, the party said in a statement.

Lowell had in the past been found guilty of inciting racial hatred for comments he had made related to migration, and was, on appeal, sentenced to 13 months in prison suspended for two years.

Imperium Europa, which was founded in 2000 and bills itself as being “pro-Europe but against the current-form European Union”, which it deems as a “mercantile union”, obtained 6,761 votes in the last European elections, coming close to surpassing Alternattiva Demokratika at one point.

The party said that it holds that “current cultural diversity policies are leading to the annihilation of cultures" and that it "seeks to promote a Europe of regions and peoples through the formation of a new grouping of right-wing representatives in Brussels: Nova Europa”.

“The party believes that the people have been misrepresented by the six MEP candidates, who followed their own party agenda and personal interest in Brussels, and who failed to address the people’s frustration, needs and imminent dangers,” it added.

Since the new party financing laws came into effect, any party which wishes to contest an election has to be registered with the Electoral Commission, with Imperium Europa having obtained its registration at the end of last January.