BRUSSELS — Efforts to curtail far-right influence over a decade-defining climate law failed after the center-right European People’s Party refused to support left-leaning and centrist groups.

A narrow majority of MEPs on Wednesday rejected a motion to fast-track the European Parliament’s discussions on the EU’s 2040 climate target, a proposal that would have limited the far-right Patriots for Europe’s control over the legislation.

The motion, brought by the center-left Socialists and Democrats, the centrist Renew Europe, and the Greens, failed by 300 votes in favor to 379 votes against, with eight abstentions.

The vote came after the Patriots on Tuesday outbid other political groups to field the lead MEP for the file, a shock move giving the group — which opposes the proposed target and the EU’s green agenda more broadly — unprecedented influence over climate legislation.

Holding the lead position means the far right will be responsible for drafting the Parliament’s position on the target and defending that stance in negotiations with EU governments.

Parliament’s ordinary process also gives the Patriots control over the timing, with many expressing concern that the far right would deliberately delay naming a lead MEP and drafting the parliamentary stance.

In contrast, an urgent procedure would have allowed Parliament to adopt the proposal without the lead MEP taking weeks or months to draft a report, and also prevented them from slow-walking the file.

The EPP, the political family of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, was the only group with enough seats to sway the vote.

Left-leaning and centrist MEPs implored their center-right colleagues to support them.

“I urge you to support this request,” said Renew MEP Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy. “And “If you push the [voting] button, do not think of internal Parliament or even internal group politics. But think about the future victims of floods, droughts, forest fires and heat waves.”

Green lawmaker Lena Schilling asked the EPP to “make sure our future and the future of your children does not remain in the hand of climate deniers.”

But just before the vote was held, the EPP announced it would oppose the motion.

“Let’s also keep it a little bit realistic. We’re not voting today on the climate law, we’re voting on which procedure we’re going to use,” EPP MEP Jeroen Lenaers said.

“The Commission proposal … has been on the table for one week. We will work on it, we will assess it, and we will try to improve it,” he added. “We don’t want undue delays, we don’t want blockages, we just want to work on this proposal with the normal proceedings of this House.”

The EPP’s refusal to back the motion immediately prompted howls of betrayal. Michael Bloss, the Greens’ climate spokesperson, branded the move as “scandalous, irresponsible and unforgivable.”

With the Patriots in charge of Parliament’s position, agreeing on the 2040 milestone just got even harder.

The Commission last week proposed reducing the EU’s emissions by up to 90 percent below 1990 levels over the next 15 years, but softened the target by allowing governments to outsource part of their climate efforts to poorer countries. But that’s not enough for some countries, such as France and Poland, setting the stage for tricky negotiations among governments.