Suspension of Fidesz: Orban goes beyond the EPP-bridge News

There is no exclusion from the EPP, the national Hungarian Fidesz party is also due to the suspension in Brussels in an Offside position. The big Crash was avoided.

Holger Beckmann, ARD-Studio Brussels

The Christian Democrats in the European Parliament have voted to suspend the Hungarian Fidesz for an indeterminate period of time from within its own ranks. This is not to the exclusion of the party of Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban out of the EPP, such a step, but relatively close. During the suspension, the Fidesz no voting rights, they may not participate in EPP Meetings and Fidesz members should not run for Posts in the European people's party.

Europe's Christian Democrats draw the consequences of what Orban and Fidesz stand for some years: a dismantling of the rule of law in Hungary and a political course of the European fundamental values clearly runs contrary to. In the past year had hurt the European Parliament for a so-called article 7 procedure against Hungary, which is considered the sharpest weapon against EU member States, the European fundamental rights.

This poster campaign of the Fidesz party was the last straw.

Fidesz had crossed red lines

But have yet to PPE belonging to the Fidesz and Orban not impressed. Last, there was the controversial poster campaign in Hungary with images of EU Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker and by US billionaire George Soros and anti-European slogans. For many in the EPP, the last red line was crossed.

get the Fidesz felt now, said the CSU MEP Manfred Weber, who is competing for the EPP in the European elections as the top candidate: "During the period of suspension, the Fidesz will have no opportunity to influence the political course of the EPP somehow. So we have made a clear decision, a strong decision, based on the values of the European people's party."

Manfred Weber wants to be President of the EU Commission and needs probably, the votes of the Fidesz party.

the evaluation Committee of judges, Fidesz

The suspension will last until a panel of experienced EPP decides to politicians about whether Orban's Fidesz party should again come into the EPP family. Namely, under the condition that she follows the rule of law and its Anti-EU course gives up.

Herman van Rompoy, Hans-Gert Pöttering, and Wolfgang Schüssel, you have gained a great politician for the "evaluation Committee," said Weber: "The net years of Christian democratic politicians that have dominated Europe and the EPP."

are Currently represented in the European Parliament a total of 750 members. They do not organize themselves by Nations, but by political affiliation in the groups. There are currently eight. The European people's party (EPP) is the largest group with 217 members. 11 EPP MEPs from the Hungarian Fidesz party.

Kramp-Karrenbauer rank with Orban

In the deliberations of the EPP in the building of the Brussels EU-Parliament, an intense verbal struggle between Orban and the German CDU is to it-Boss Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer. She had appealed to Orban to accept the actions of the EPP against the Fidesz. You build him a bridge to lost trust.

so Far it looks as if Orban wants to use this bridge actually. After the Meeting in Brussels, he said in the evening, he welcome the decision of the suspension. And he added that Fidesz will continue to support the candidacy of Weber as the new President of the European Commission. Such sounds had expected the least.

If it actually comes, would Weber achieved an important goal. He had always spoken out against the exclusion of Fidesz from the EPP. Because if he wants to be elected in the European Parliament on the new EU Commission President, he needs every vote.

EPP suspended Hungarian Fidesz
Holger Beckmann, WDR Brussels
20.03.2019 20:36 PM

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