Stubb calls on EPP to consider expelling Fidesz from its ranks

Orbán Merkel
Brüsszel, 2018. október 18. A Miniszterelnöki Sajtóiroda által közzétett képen Angela Merkel német kancellár és Orbán Viktor miniszterelnök (j) beszélget a 12. Ázsia-Európa (ASEM) csúcstalálkozón Brüsszelben 2018. október 18-án. Balra Venkaiah Naidu indiai alelnök. MTI/Miniszterelnöki Sajtóiroda/Szecsõdi Balázs

Hungary’s government has hit back at Former Finnish prime minister Alexander Stubb’s call on the European People’s Party to consider expelling Fidesz from its ranks, saying that its refusal to back “the liberals’ immigration policy” was the reason behind the political attacks directed at Hungary.

Stubb, who is competing with Germany’s Manfred Weber to become the EPP’s lead candidate for the European parliamentary elections, told RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland in an interview on Saturday that if Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán does not respect the EPP’s values, he must leave the grouping. Stubb said he “doesn’t tolerate intolerance” and called Orban’s “restrictions” on the right to assembly and academic freedom “unacceptable”.

The Government Information Centre reacted by reiterating that

Orbán and Fidesz will support the election of Manfred Weber as the EPP’s lead candidate.

“Next week the European People’s Party will make an important decision when it selects its lead candidate for next year’s European Parliamentary elections,” the centre said in a statement. “Alexander Stubb is the candidate of the EPP’s liberal arm and has an excellent personal relationship with George Soros,” it added.

“Fidesz belongs to the EPP’s Christian democratic wing, and the reason why Hungary is being attacked and criticised is because Viktor Orbán and Fidesz do not support the liberal wing’s immigration policy,” the statement said.

Photo: MTI

Source: MTI

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