Prime Minister Orban announces a new alliance with Austrian and Czech nationalist parties

2024-06-30 15:10:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Prime Minister Orban announces a new alliance with Austrian and Czech

Hungarian Prime Minister, Viktor Orban. Source, AFP

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Sunday announced a new alliance with Austria's far-right Freedom Party and the main Czech opposition party, hoping to attract more partners and become the largest right-wing group in the country. European Parliament.

Prime Minister Orban went to Vienna to present his Fidesz party's "Patriots for Europe" alliance with the Freedom Party and the ANO party of former Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis, a day before Hungary takes the next presidency of the European Union.

European Parliament elections in early June strengthened right-wing parties in general, although their results varied from country to country, but left uncertainty about the extent to which they would be able to work together. So far, they have been divided into two groups in the new composition of the European Parliament, with a number of uncommitted eyes.

In recent years, Prime Minister Orban has appeared to relish opportunities to block, soften or delay key EU decisions, routinely siding against most other leaders on issues such as the war in Ukraine, relations with Russia and China, and efforts to to protect democracy and the rule of law. His public opposition to EU policies and positions has long frustrated other governments in the bloc.

"There are three things that Europeans want: peace, order and development," Prime Minister Orban said through an interpreter at Sunday's event. "And what they are getting from the elite in Brussels today is war, migration and stagnation," he said.

"Our goal is, and we believe that this will happen, that within a short time, this will be the strongest right-wing group in the European Parliament," said Prime Minister Orban.

The trio will need to attract lawmakers from at least four other EU countries to successfully form a group in the new parliament.

The leader of the Freedom Party, Herbert Kickl, noted that the new European Parliament will meet for the first time in Strasbourg on July 16. He said that "starting now... all political forces who want to join our political and positive reform effort are very welcome."

He added that "from what I've heard in the last few days ... there will be more of them than some of you might suspect." He did not name any potential partners, and the three leaders declined to answer questions from reporters at this subject.

The Freedom Party narrowly came out on top in the European Parliament elections and hopes to win Austria's national elections on September 29.

A "patriotic manifesto for a European future" signed by the three party leaders opposes alleged plans for "a central European state" and vows to "prioritize sovereignty over federalism, freedom over dictates and peace". VOA