The Minister of the Prime Minister’s Office and Vice-President of Fidesz has told MTI that Fidesz will only be able to stay in the European People's Party if on Wednesday not only is it not expelled from the party grouping, but also if its membership is not suspended. Gergely Gulyás added that Fidesz could not accept the suspension of its membership, and in the event of such a decision would leave the People's Party with immediate effect.

He added that if a committee of “three wise men” is set up to examine the justification for the party’s expulsion, Fidesz will unilaterally and voluntarily agree to freeze it’s work in the People’s Party’s bodies until such a committee has completed its work.

The Minister, who was speaking to MTI from Brussels, said that “This matter also relates to the honour of Fidesz and the country.”

He noted that “We cannot agree to a compromise that limits our freedom and restricts our policy of rejecting immigration.”

The Minister also said that Fidesz sees the defence of Christian Europe as one of the most important political goals.

Mr. Gulyás said that in recent weeks Fidesz has made every effort to reach a compromise, fulfilling the conditions set by Manfred Weber, the People’s Party's lead candidate.

He recalled that the proposed expulsion of Fidesz from the party family was initiated by thirteen parties within the pro-immigration wing of the People's Party, and these parties have a combined total of 34 mandates out of the 217 in the parliamentary group.

He added, however, that according to the rules the issue is to be discussed by the party family’s leadership committee.

(MTI)