Hungary’s governing party Fidesz is a member of the EPP. But party leader Orban fails EPP’s leading candidate Weber’s support. Tips of the CDU have already concluded with Orban. CSU man Dobrindt sees it a little differently.
The announcement by Hungary’s head of government Viktor Orban not to support the EPP’s top candidate Manfred Weber in the European elections, stirs up the Union parties. CSU national group chief Alexander Dobrindt regretted the decision. The situation around Orban had rocked itself unnecessarily, said Dobrindt. At the same time he made it clear that an exclusion of Orbans from the European People’s Party (EPP) for him is not yet a quasi-decided thing: „The present time, I do not see the end of the escalation spiral.“
Orbans Fidesz party belongs like CDU and CSU of the EPP. The Conservatives had distanced themselves from Hungary’s prime minister in March and had suspended Fidesz’s membership for an indefinite period. The background is anti-European and anti-Semitic remarks by Fidesz.
Certainty should bring a meeting in late May
Orban had yesterday deprived the top candidate for the European election, Weber, of his support. The CSU politician Weber has made it clear that he does not want to be with the votes of Hungary President of the European Commission, said Orban. This excludes any further support for him.
Dobrindt says to the question whether Weber’s statement that he does not want to become EU Commission President with Hungarian electoral votes was a mistake: „I would rather you find one together than to seek arguments as to why you can drift further apart.“ In the past mistakes were made in the handling. However, the cancellation of Orban had no effect on Weber’s campaign before the European elections. All other questions would be discussed after the election on May 26th.
„Travelers do not stop“
CDU leaders, however, do not believe that Orban’s party remains a member of the European Conservatives. Party leader Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer expects Orbans to withdraw from the EPP. „He has sent a clear signal that he will leave the EPP with his behavior in the past few days and the meeting with the Italian Lega boss,“ said the CDU chief. The EPP tried to build bridges for him. His behavior shows, however, that he has deliberately moved away from the party, said the head of the CDU.
The Parliamentary Managing Director of the Union faction in the Bundestag, Michael Grosse-Brömer (CDU), spoke of a serious error Orbans. He added, „Travelers should not be stopped.“ Orbán’s statement is a sign that he no longer sees the community within the EPP. It remains to be seen how Orban will continue to behave – this must ultimately evaluate the EPP.
