After years of disagreements, Fidesz's exit from the European People Party’s (EPP) group in the European Parliament was a step long overdue. The question remains, however, where Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's puszta populism will find its new shelter.
Fidesz MEPs Leave EPP Group Following New Ruling on Party Suspensions
After the European People’s Party passed its vote allowing for the suspension of its member parties, Viktor Orbán sent a letter to EPP Group President Manfred Weber declaring the immediate resignation of all Fidesz representatives from the party’s faction in the European Parliament.
The new ruling, passed 148 to 28, allows for the removal of EPP member groups’ privileges. Only 15 percent of the faction is required to call for a vote on the suspension or restriction of a member or a group of members, which can be passed through a 2/3 majority vote in the party.
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Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has been vaccinated with a coronavirus vaccine developed by China’s Sinopharm, Orbán announced on his official Facebook page on Sunday (28 February) as the country tries to accelerate its vaccination programme.
Hungary on Wednesday became the first European Union member to start inoculating people with Sinopharm shots after rolling out Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine as well, even though neither has been granted approval for emergency use by the bloc.
We should be happy to get any vaccine,” said Laszlo Cservak, a pensioner queueing in Budapest for China’s Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine shot after Hungary became the first EU member to start using it.
Orbán Threatens to Leave EPP if Change in Rules Goes Through
The EPP is about to change its rules of procedure allowing the party family to penalize an entire member party, rather than just a single MEP. The new rules would enable the party family to exclude the whole Fidesz faction by a simple majority. In reaction, Fidesz MEP László Trócsányi has already threatened to turn to EU’s Court of Justice. Also, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán issued an ultimatum to pull his party from the EPP should the new rules be put to vote.