The Hungarian and Polish Prime Ministers, Viktor Orbán and Mateusz Morawiecki, sketched out a new project for a European political alliance on 1 April in Budapest, in the presence of the Italian La Lega President, Matteo Salvini, a movement that the Hungarian Prime Minister described as a “European Renaissance” at a joint press conference.
The meeting, initiated by the Hungarian Prime Minister, was prompted by the withdrawal of Fidesz from the European People’s Party (EPP) family, Mr Orbán commented (see EUROPE 12681/16). “We want a renaissance, a European renaissance; and in the future we will work together to achieve it” commented the Hungarian, who spoke of the three formations’ common interests around the “Atlanticist” commitment and the values of “freedom, dignity, Christianity, the family and national sovereignty”.
“We have clarified all the issues that are most important to our nations; and we have concluded that there is not a single matter on which we cannot reach agreement [...] This is true for key domestic policy issues; and it is also true for foreign policy, as the Italian and Polish governments have strong Atlanticist commitments, and Hungary is a reliable member not only of the European Union, but also of NATO”, said Viktor Orbán.
While the EPP “is plainly committed to a long-term working relationship with the European Left, many millions of European citizens have been left without representation”, he said, wishing to give real “representation” to European Christian Democrats.
“What we need now is the renaissance of Europe and its values; Europe cannot be a diktat of the strongest”, said Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki.
“There are forces that cut themselves off from the European tradition, from respect for the family, for the sovereign state, for human dignity, for respect for the truth, for the right of nations to self-determination. We want to offer a counter proposition to these forces”, added the Polish politician.
As for Matteo Salvini, he said that “every European country deserves respect and no Member State should be blackmailed”. Each country “should have the right to go its own way, because no organisation can decide who is a democrat and who is not”, he said. “We are here to build something sustainable”, added the Italian politician.
Work will continue to make this alliance project a reality and the next meeting should take place in May, in Warsaw, at the invitation of the Polish Prime Minister, according to a Hungarian government statement. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)