Page 15 - bne_newspaper_March_22_2019

Central Europe
March 22, 2019 www.intellinews.com I Page 15
Fidesz’ suspension from European People’s Party raises fears of eventual Huexit
bne IntelliNews
The European People’s Party (EPP) political assembly suspended the membership of Hungarian ruling party Fidesz with immediate effect with 190 votes in favour and three against after a long and painful debate on March 20.
The presidency of the centre-right group, the largest in the European Parliament, agreed jointly with Fidesz on the suspension. The suspension entails that Fidesz will no longer be present at any party meeting, nor have speaking time, nor voting rights, nor the right to propose candidates for posts.
The debate behind closed doors took longer
than expected and was rather tense, sources
told opposition daily Nepszava. Hungarian Prime Minister Orban was relatively subdued during the meeting and he focused on Fidesz's achievements and the party's firm stance on Christian Democratic values. He criticised the parties initiating the expulsion of Fidesz and called their criticisms “fake news”.
At the press conference after the meeting,
Orban said he had agreed voluntarily to pause Fidesz’s participation in the EPP and had not been suspended. Local commentators said he tried to convey the image of a man of compromise.
"I can share the good news that the EPP has taken a good decision. It maintained its unity and we can continue a unified campaign," he said,
adding that he would campaign for an EPP victory in May’s European elections.
First comments by Fidesz friendly media championed Orban for his ability to compromise while standing up against his critics, who failed to oust his party, which according to party propaganda was a clear and definite setback.
Independent media says that Orban has managed to buy time before the European parliamentary elections, adding that both Fidesz' and the EPP's future will hinge on the outcome of the May 26 elections. The Hungarian conservative party
is polled to reach between 12-14 seats, which could make him the kingmaker for the EPP’s Manfred Weber to become European Commission president.
Orban managed to avoid the most embarrassing scenario, an expulsion, after he vowed to meet demands set by EPP leaders on ending his campaign against Brussels, apologise to Fidesz critics within the party group. The third condition was that the Central European University (CEU) must be allowed to issue US-accredited degrees in Budapest.
German media sources said on Wednesday
that Orban has accepted the offer by Bavaria concerning scientific cooperation with the CEU. According to the proposal unveiled by Weber during his visit to Budapest last week, the Munich