1705739087
The ceasefire between the ODS and Hungarian head of state Viktor Orbán appears to be finally ending. The main Czech government party is against Orbán’s Fidesz party joining the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group, in which it is itself represented in the European Parliament. The reason is the friendliness of Ukraine and Orbán towards Russia.
MEP Alexandr Vondra (ODS) has long defended the Hungarian far right, referring to his friends from the anti-communist dissent who today defend the colors of Fidesz and conservative values. However, he now literally told Seznam Zprávám that there was nothing to discuss with him on this matter until Orbán changed the positions they took towards Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
Orbán’s party separated from the center-conservative People’s Party (EPP) in 2021 and is looking for a new one.
Rome leads the negotiations
Orbán has already stated that he is targeting the ECR group. Long considered a Eurosceptic group, in recent years it has been displaced on the EU political map by more radical parties from the far right. In addition to the ODS, the Polish Law and Justice and the Brothers of Italy from the Apennine Peninsula are also “at home” in the ECR.
It was Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni who was supposed to lead the courtship between Fidesz and European reformists in recent weeks. According to the Bloomberg agency, the talks between Rome and Budapest are said to have been part of the pressure on Orbán before the February summit, at which the 27-year-old wants to break his resistance to the provision of additional financial aid for Ukraine, specifically 50 billion euros next four years.
Who will “smash” Macron?
An interesting dispute is emerging between the Czech parties and another influential Euro faction. Both ANO and STAN are interested in the liberal group Renew, whose most influential figure is French President Emmanuel Macron.
Historically, Renew is the movement of opposition leader Andrej Babiš. This connection is based on the strong bond between him and Macron. However, the two politicians differ greatly in terms of current politics (we have written about this here, for example), which will most likely also be reflected in the European election campaign. “We are not planning any changes yet,” wrote Seznam Zprávám Babiš.
Jan Farský, one of the STAN chairmen for the European elections, told Seznam Zprávám that a decision on admission to the European Parliament will only be made after the elections. According to him, negotiations are ongoing with both Renew and the People’s Party.
“Until (Viktor Orbán – author’s note) changes his stance on Ukraine, we have nothing to talk about.” “I would expect a fundamentally greater level of solidarity with Ukraine in general and less support for Putin,” said Seznam told Zprávám Vondra about the negotiations between the ECR and Orbán.
The influential Brussels website Politico wrote at the end of last week, citing a parliamentary group spokesman, that Orbán had not yet submitted an official application to the ECR for his Fidesz. At the same time, Orbán himself confirmed the negotiations to the influential French weekly Le Point last December.
Separation of powers in the European Parliament
Photo: List of news
Distribution of seats by political faction, as of February 2023.
- The European Parliament has 705 members.
- MEPs are organized into political factions, which bring together representatives from different EU countries based on their political affiliation.
- According to parliamentary rules, such a group must consist of at least 23 MPs, coming from at least a quarter of the Member States (currently at least seven countries).
- Members of the European Parliament can only belong to one (or no) political group.
Hungary at the top of the EU
Despite all doubts about Orbán’s policies, his interest in the ECR must be tempting. Politico also points out that, according to its polls, the ECR is likely to become stronger in the upcoming EU elections. And the Fidesz seats would increase their influence even further. Today it has 12 representatives in Brussels, the ODS – for comparison – four.
Hungary will also take over the EU presidency immediately after the elections, i.e. in the months in which the new European Commission is formed, and will therefore have great influence, at least as a moderator. Although there is a bit of a headache in Brussels because of Orbán’s lack of team spirit.
The ODS was conciliatory towards Orbán for a long time, even after the Russian attack on Ukraine, when it became clear that Budapest was systematically undermining the EU’s hard-earned unity in the face of war east of the EU’s borders. Orbán finds support among civil democrats primarily on issues that have a cultural undertone and shake the unity of society. In contrast to most EU states, the Czech Republic did not join the lawsuit against Hungary due to its anti-LGBT+ law. However, the distance has recently become increasingly clear; in the summer, Prime Minister Petr Fiala took a stand against Hungary and Poland on the migration issue.
#ceasefire #ODS #accept #Orbán #faction