Orbán asks EPP members to reconsider proposal to expel Fidesz

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has written to members of the European People’s Party that initiated the expulsion of his ruling Fidesz from the centre-right bloc, apologising for “offensive language”, but maintaining his political positions, Reuters reported on Thursday.

Leading Fidesz politicians have said in recent days that the party would make no compromises on fundamental political issues in its dispute with the EPP.

In his latest interview with Hungarian public radio, Orbán said no compromise was possible when it came to migration and protecting Christian culture, “but we can talk about everything else”.

According to a copy of the prime minister’s letter obtained by Reuters, Orbán asked the leader of the Flemish Christian Democrats, Wouter Beke, to reconsider his proposal to expel Fidesz.

Responding to a query by MTI, Bertalan Havasi, the PM’s press chief, confirmed the letter’s authenticity along with Reuters’ report that similar letters have been sent to all the EPP members that joined the proposal to expel Fidesz from the grouping.

In a statement, Zoltán Kovács, the state secretary for international communications and relations, said in connection with the letter that as long as there is a chance “to change the pro-migration tendency” in the EPP, “we will do everything we can”.

They are open to “reasonable compromise” on every issue except for stopping migration and protecting Europe’s borders and its Christian culture, Kovács said.

The leftist opposition Democratic Coalition reacted by calling on Orbán to publish his letter.

Zsolt Greczy, DK’s parliamentary group spokesman, told a press conference that Orbán “had good reason to write the letter”, noting that the EPP is set to vote on Fidesz’s future in the grouping on March 20.

“The prime minister has fallen to his knee and is now begging the EPP members he had called useful idiots to withdraw their initiative,” Greczy said.

Featured image: MTI

Source: MTI