Orbán and Morawiecki Aim to Unite Right-Wing Factions in European Parliament

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki are working to unite the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) and Identity and Democracy (ID) groups in the European Parliament, according to an analysis by Tamás Orbán. The goal is to create a strong conservative alliance to offset the impact of pro-EU, federalist forces in the parliament.

Orbán's party, Fidesz, is considering joining either the ECR or ID group after leaving the center-right European People's Party in 2021. Orbán wants to team up with Marine Le Pen of France's National Rally party and Giorgia Meloni of Italy's Brothers of Italy party to gain more leverage. Morawiecki and Meloni have a strong relationship, and an alliance could be beneficial to all three leaders.

However, some ECR members are skeptical of allowing Fidesz to join due to Orbán's views on Ukraine. Orbán has expressed opposition to the EU's plans to provide financial aid to Ukraine. The political director of the Hungarian Prime Minister's office stated that "the current structure of the European Parliament is not good, and the national conservative forces need to be heard more on the European stage."

Why this matters: The upcoming 2024 European Parliament elections are seen as vital in shaping the future of Europe, with a populist rebellion brewing that could change the face of the EU. The efforts by Orbán and Morawiecki to unite right-wing factions could have significant implications for the balance of power in the parliament and the direction of EU policies.

The analysis by Tamás Orbán highlights the strategic maneuvering by conservative forces ahead of the European Parliament elections. While some obstacles remain, such as skepticism from certain ECR members about Fidesz joining, the potential alliance between Orbán, Le Pen, and Meloni could create a formidable bloc to challenge the federalist agenda. As the political director of Orbán's office noted, national conservative voices are pursuing greater sway on the European stage.

Key Takeaways

• Orbán and Morawiecki aim to unite ECR and ID groups in EU Parliament
• Goal is to create a strong conservative alliance to offset pro-EU forces
• Fidesz may join ECR or ID group after leaving EPP in 2021
• Orbán, Le Pen, and Meloni seek alliance for more leverage in Parliament
• 2024 EU elections seen as vital, with populist rebellion shaping EU's future