The EPP’s weapon against Fidesz

On Wednesday, the European People’s Party faction of the EP will vote on an amendment to their rules of procedure that would essentially pave the way for a vote to suspend Fidesz from the group. According to our sources from the European Parliament, the EPP is preparing a weapon against Fidesz from a barely twenty-page, “invisible” document. Manfred Weber’s approach to the situation is perfectly illustrated by his refusal to even respond to Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s compromise proposal last December. We also know that the German Christian EU parties consider the legal ground of these new rules questionable.

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán at the European People’s Party Group meeting in the EP building in Strasbourg on September 11, 2018. Next to him, Manfred Weber, leader of the EPP. Fotó: Miniszterelnöki Sajtóiroda / Szecsődi Balázs Forrás: Miniszterelnöki Sajtóiroda/Szecsődi Balázs

The rights and obligations of the thirteen politicians in question (twelve Fidesz MEPs and one KDNP-Christian Democratic People’s Party MEP) don’t stem from the EPP, but rather the electorate. “As president of Fidesz, it is my obligation to guarantee the full representation of our voters” – wrote Viktor Orbán in his letter. He added: “Fidesz MEPs were elected with the support of more than 1.8 million Hungarian votes and more than 52% of the vote share. Proportionally, they represent the strongest delegation of the EPP Group.”

Doubtful we’ll get an answer now

Our sources state that those in the EPP are aware of the legal ambiguities. At the end of the week, the Brussels-based newspaper, Politico.eu reported: “MEP [and law professor] László Trócsányi threatened to take the EPP group to… the EU’s Court of Justice.” Although the paper cites a “threat” of litigation, according to our sources from the EPP

first, the German Christian EU parties raised doubts that the rule of procedure amendment would stand in the EU Court.

(Our source said that László Trócsányi confirmed this opinion as a legal authority and hence the Politico.eu article.)

It’s worth noting that last December, the Hungarian Prime Minister, as president of Fidesz, proposed that the Hungarian MEPs maintain a sort of looser cooperation with the EPP Group until the umbrella party decision is made.

The letter addressed to Manfred Weber, leader of the European People’s Party, was never answered.

Yet the idea did have support – said an EPP source who continued on to say that it’s doubtful whether the Hungarians will be deemed worthy of an answer. He also believes its quite striking that at the end of last year, the hurried preparation against Fidesz began, with complete disregard for the coronavirus pandemic. Actually, until then, there was a unanimous opinion among the faction that they should wait for the debate between the Hungarian ruling party and the umbrella party to conclude.

Prime Minister Orbán Viktor greets the Fidesz-KDNP MEPs in Budapest at the Carmelite Monastery on January 11, 2021; photo published by the Prime Minister’s Press Office.
Fotó: MTI/MIniszterelnöki Sajtóiroda/Fischer Zoltán