Concerted Attack Unleashed in Brussels to Undermine Hungary's EU Presidency and Patriots for Europe Alliance

Speakers at the online conference, organized by Green MEP Daniel Freund, lambaste the Hungarian EU presidency and express concern over the heightened influence Viktor Orban has gained by heading the EU presidency, as well as due to the weakening of the major European countries. Patriots for Europe, the newly formed right-wing party family, was also discussed at the event attacking Hungary.

Czech ANO party leader and former Prime Minister Andrej Babis, Austrian Freedom Party (FPO) leader Herbert Kickl and Hungarian Prime Minister and Fidesz leader Viktor Orban at the Vienna signing of the Patriotic Manifesto for the Future of Europe and the announcement of the Patriots for Europe EP party group on June 30, 2024. (Photo: MTI/Prime Minister's Press Office/Zoltan Fischer)

Czech ANO party leader and former Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis, Austrian Freedom Party (FPO) leader Herbert Kickl and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in a three-way handshake in Vienna on June 30, 2024 (Photo: AFP/Tobias Steinmaurer)

Hungarian Prime Minister and Fidez President Viktor Orban, adopted a patriotic manifesto for the future of Europe in Vienna on Sunday morning with Austrian Freedom Party (FPO) President Herbert Kickl and Czech ANO Party president and former Prime Minister Andrej Babis. According to the Patriotic Manifesto, the nations of Europe have reached a historic turning point. The European Union, once a dream project rooted in a desire for reconciliation after the devastation caused by two world wars and decades of division, has turned against Europeans and now represents interests that are at odds with the will of nations, regions and the small communities that make up our European homeland.

In response to Daniel Freund's question about the sovereignist formation Patriots for Europe, brought ot life in Vienna, Dobrev said that the populists have little strength, and that if they do not cooperate with the European People's Party (EPP) they will not be able to impose their will in the European Parliament.

Dobrev stressed the need for saying they refuse to work together with Nazis and extremists. In her view, however, the European conservatives, especially the Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU) and the Austrian People's Party (OVP), will cooperate with the right wing in one way or another.

According to the German journalist, the isolation the Hungarian government has experienced in recent years is easing. He described Herbert Kickl, chairman of the Austrian Freedom Party (FPO), as a big fan of Viktor Orban, but said that the relationship with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico was "more complicated". According to Cathrin Kahlweit, the German Alternative for Germany (AfD) has a good chance of being accepted into the Patriots for Europe party family.

Daniel Hegedus said that many people would like to see government policies similar to Hungary's and warned against belittling the significance of the Patriots for Europe party group.

Cover photo: Czech ANO party leader and former Prime Minister Andrej Babis, Austrian Freedom Party (FPO) leader Herbert Kickl and Hungarian Prime Minister and Fidesz leader Viktor Orban at the Vienna signing of the Patriotic Manifesto for the Future of Europe and the announcement of the Patriots for Europe EP party group on June 30, 2024. (Photo: MTI/Prime Minister's Press Office/Zoltan Fischer)