With the suspension of ruling Fidesz’s membership in the European People’s Party on Wednesday, the party has lost its lobbying power in the European Union, Bertalan Tóth, the leader of the opposition Socialist Party, told a press conference on Thursday.
“Whichever way it is interpreted”, Fidesz can no longer exercise its rights within the largest party group of the European Parliament, the body that makes decisions on the EU budget and elects leaders of the European Commission, he said.
Both Hungary and its government have lost with the suspension as the country has a vested interest in access to the EU funds supporting Hungarian companies and families, he said.
“So the only force left to represent Hungary’s interests from now is the Socialist Party, within its own party family, the Party of European Socialists,” he said.
It is to be feared, he said, that Hungary will leave or will be expelled from the European Union.
“That is why it is important for Hungarian voters to cast their ballots on pro-European forces in the forthcoming EP elections,” he said.
The Socialist and Párbeszéd parties will disclose their joint list for the election on Saturday, Tóth said. Párbeszéd MEP Benedek Jávor will feature in third place on the list, and will also be the “face” of the alliance’s environmental campaign, Tóth said.
Featured image: MTI
Hungary should withdraw from EPP and join friendly Italy and Polish parties that have the same goals.
How can Hungary rely on the MSZP, if the MSZP regularly votes against Hungary in the EP? And what do the MSZP’S new friends, Jobbik, think of this? Will the MSZP let them have the Garda back, which Fidesz outlawed, lest we forget?