At a press conference in Budapest on Thursday, Minister of the Prime Minister’s Office Gergely Gulyás said that Fidesz is a member of the European People’s Party (EPP) and wants to remain so. He added that the parties which are attacking Fidesz are those which voted for immigration quotas.

The Minister said that every party in the EPP which is attacking Fidesz supported and voted for immigration quotas in the European Parliament (EP), and that none of them count a head of government among their number. At the same time, he said, these parties are important members of the EPP, the party family has many members, and a wide variety of opinions are expressed within it.

Mr. Gulyás stressed that everyone’s opinion will be listened to, and that every effort will be made to ensure that in its campaign for May’s EP elections the EPP is united and strong, and that election results confirm Fidesz as the EPP’s strongest member party.

In response to a question, he said that Manfred Weber has written a letter to EPP leaders in which there was no mention of American diplomas issued by Central European University; he stated that the matter related to the recent request from the leader of the EPP’s parliamentary group has been resolved.

The Minister stressed that there have been consultations with EPP leaders, and it has been made clear which points cannot be the subject of compromise: for example, the rejection of immigration. He said that over the past week there has been increased convergence of opinions.

Mr. Gulyás observed that what unites Fidesz and the EPP is greater than that which divides them. He noted that Fidesz joined a Christian-Democratic party family, and – although there have been disappointments – in Europe today membership of the EPP still offers the opportunity for the most effective representation of Christian democracy.

The Minister said that the goal is for Fidesz to compete in the EP elections as a member of the EPP, and this is also in the interest of the EPP. Nevertheless, he said, if Fidesz were not a member of the EPP it would not damage the party’s popularity.

He noted that the most compelling argument for staying in the EPP is that the CDU (Christian Democratic Union of Germany) is also a member of the party family.

Mr. Gulyás confirmed that Fidesz continues to support Manfred Weber, because it is best if he becomes the next President of the European Commission.

At the same time, he said, there have indeed been statements which prompt one to ask why small parties from countries smaller than Hungary think they have the right to interfere in Hungarian internal politics and tell it what it can and cannot do.

Mr. Gulyás confirmed that there have been talks with CDU leader Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer and with Manfred Weber, but not with Marine Le Pen’s party, the French radical right-wing formation RN (National Rally). He added that in a “thought experiment” in which Fidesz were no longer a member of the EPP, it would still need to maintain good relations with CDU/CSU; but there would be no scope for cooperation with AfD (Alternative for Germany).

The Minister also said that in this May’s upcoming EP elections the most important topic will be immigration. He recalled that Manfred Weber has also said the same, which means that “we are not alone in our view” that this topic is of the utmost importance for Europe.

He stated that the reason masses of people from Africa and other regions are not coming here is that Hungary’s border defences deter them from trying. He added that since construction of the fence immigrants have avoided Hungary; but if the Hungarian government’s policy were to change, Hungary – like many other countries – would become a target for migration.

According to the Minister, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s proposal for the creation of a council of the Schengen Area’s interior ministers is a good initiative, as not even the current Commission’s most loyal supporters have ever claimed that the body has handled migration well. Instead of deciding on this issue in Brussels, he said, it would make sense for the responsibility to be returned to the Member States and for them to be represented in the proposed council. Therefore, he noted, if an effective and workable solution is needed, this is an extremely important proposal for driving back migration.

Government Spokesperson István Hollik added that the European Commission has not been open on the issue of immigration, and is not revealing its plans. He stated that the Commission sees the migrant relocation mechanisms as successful and wants to continue them, it would legalise illegal migration, and it thinks that Europe needs migration – and therefore it intends to encourage it.

(MTI)