The prospects of Fidesz in EU politics

A left-wing and a pro-government columnist wonder how much influence the 13-strong Fidesz group will have in the European Parliament, whether it remains in the EPP or joins another political family.

Népszava’s Róbert Friss thinks that Fidesz is unlikely to have any important influence on EU politics. The left-wing columnist suspects that mainstream parties will form a centrist coalition in the European Parliament. If Fidesz stays within the EPP it will become marginalized, and if leaves it to join EU-sceptic parties, it will not have any direct leverage over important decisions made by the governing coalition, Friss speculates. He adds that PM Orbán has failed in his efforts to become a key power player in the EU.

In Magyar Nemzet, Levente Sitkei expects that Fidesz will soon be approached by the leaders of the main EP parties. The pro-government columnist believes that Fidesz with 13 MEPs will be a very influential group. In Sitkei’s interpretation, EU politics is mainly a competition between parties that want to increase their power in order to realize their own national interests. Therefore, for parties in the EU, ideological issues matter less than pragmatic and material concerns, Sitkei suggests. As the primary interest of all parties is to participate in the government, Sitkei takes it for granted that Fidesz MPs will be important actors in EU bargaining processes in the months ahead.

Tags: EPP, European Parliament, Fidesz