This article has been published online by the Magyar Nemzet on March 6, 2021.
MEPs from the Polish Law and Justice party would welcome Fidesz to their EP Group with open arms. According to our discussion with Polish MEP Dominik Tarczyński, the future lies in Orbán’s plan to build up a new right.
“We have spoken with the Poles, with Hungary’s great friend, Mr. Matteo Salvini, with Mrs. Meloni, President of the other Italian right-wing party” said Prime Minister Viktor Orbán last Friday, after Fidesz left the European People’s Party (EPP) European Parliamentary Group. At the moment of writing this, those twelve Fidesz MEPs are already sitting amongst the independents in the EU Parliament with President David Sassoli announcing the decision on Monday. In the midst of discussions regarding potential allies, Magyar Nemzet spoke with Domonik Tarczyński, Polish MEP from the Law and Justic (PiS) party, on the EPP breakup and its consequences.
“We will see what happens, but personally I’m very hopeful that Fidesz will end up in the ranks of the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) Group. It would be wonderful! The point is for us on the right to stick together and be united.”
– surmised the Polish government party MEP. He also explained: no matter what they say, this Hungarian decision will inevitably weaken the EPP given that “less EPP representatives means less votes”, especially considering Fidesz’ large delegation.
“In my opinion, it was high time to leave the EPP” added Dominik Tarczyński who “naturally” had already heard of PM and Fidesz President Viktor Orbán’s recent proposition of building up a European democratic right without the EPP.
“Our future lies in this plan. As I’ve said, there’s no alternative: the European right must stick together, we have no other choice.”
– he emphasized.
Analysts speculating too
As our paper has previously reported, Giorgia Meloni, President of the ECR, wrote to the Hungarian Prime Minister on the occasion of Fidesz leaving the EPP, assuring him of her solidarity. Matteo Salvini, Leader of the Italian Northern League and anti-immigration politician (The League’s representatives belong to the Identity and Democracy Group in the EP, not the ECR – ed.) sent a message to the Hungarian ruling party on Twitter. In a recent article, a Brussels analyst at VoteWatch Europe analyzed: “Apart from its former EPP group, Fidesz tends to agree with the ECR group the most when voting in the European Parliament: 72% of the time. Comparatively, Fidesz agrees with the ID group only half of the time (51%).”
In any case, Tamás Deutsch, the head of the Fidesz delegation to the EP reminded last week of the partial breakup: it is not worth speculating yet, the ruling party will find a European formation through which they can represent Hungarian national interests most effectively and efficiently.
Tamara Judi (Brussels)
