József SZÁJER (EPP, HU) EPP Vice-Chair and Viktor ORBÁN, Hungarian Prime Minister, speak to the press following the EPP Political Assembly in Brussels. FIDEZ has been suspended from EPP with immediate effect and until further notice following today’s vote of EPP members (190 in favour, 3 against). The suspension entails: No attendance at any party meeting, no voting rights, no right to propose candidates for posts.

Brussels

press conference

hungarian constitution (T)

EU mechanism on democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights (T)

EU - Hungary (T)

ORBÁN, Viktor (HU)

SZÁJER, József (EPP, HU)

Press conference by József SZÁJER (EPP, HU), EPP Vice-Chair, and Viktor ORBÁN, Hungarian Prime Minister: extracts

General view of the press room, atmosphere ahead the presser (3 shots).

SOUNDBITE (Hungarian), Viktor ORB&#193;N, Hungarian Prime Minister, We have held a very interesting instructive debate, I'm an old war horse when it comes to the European politics, and I supposed I never to experience anything unprecedented, but that is what is nice about politics, you can always can be surprised by something new.

SOUNDBITE (Hungarian), Viktor ORB&#193;N, Hungarian Prime Minister, <a></a>Left wing, liberal member parties, thirteen in total, came forward with a proposal that Fidesz, our party, be excluded. This would have turned the EPP into a more narrow, left-leaning organization. We got the message and so today&rsquo;s discussions were very interesting because this is all coming on the eve of elections. Our opposition can get no greater gift than heated debate within the EPP. What was about the agenda? Well, we talked about the future, whether the EPP could remain united and present a united front to defeat the socialists and remain a leading power in Europe.

SOUNDBITE (Hungarian), Viktor ORB&#193;N, Hungarian Prime Minister, We never had any campaign against Juncker. I had my own opinion on him, but what we have in Hungary is an information campaign about the future intentions of the European Union. So if somebody would like to be interested in what is a campaign against somebody, I would to inform: that was not that. That would be different, anyway. So, Hungary insists on informing the people of Hungary what kind of intentions are here in the European Union concerning the major issues like migration. The information campaign is over. That was one of the requests of Manfred Weber and not to continue that kind of information campaign.

SOUNDBITE (Hungarian), Viktor ORB&#193;N, Hungarian Prime Minister, Membership of Hungary on the Public Prosecutor European office: It&rsquo;s totally against the Hungarian constitution. So we can&rsquo;t do that do that and we will not, because the Hungarian constitution clearly defines the public Prosecutor position, which is totally against any kind of integration into the European Union of that office.

SOUNDBITE (Hungarian), Viktor ORB&#193;N, Hungarian Prime Minister, In my right hand during the meeting, I had the letter where it was already stated that we would leave. So if we hadn&rsquo;t had this compromise proposal, I would have left the EPP today.

SOUNDBITE (Hungarian), Viktor ORB&#193;N, Hungarian Prime Minister, Everybody know that behind this whole discussion, there is one open question. After the election: what kind of coalition will be proposed by the EPP? Go to the left, Liberals, Greens, whatever, or find partners on the right side. This is the most exciting question but the problem is that without knowing the opinion of the people and the outcome of the election, we can&rsquo;t make a decision on that. We can&rsquo;t neglect the intention and the votes of the people.

SOUNDBITE (Hungarian), Viktor ORB&#193;N, Hungarian Prime Minister, It is difficult to have a proper debate about this within the EPP. Now, this issue wasn&rsquo;t raised today, we have consensus about Mr. Soros&rsquo;s corrupt organizations. What&rsquo;s really behind that, is wanting to undermine our power. Even if we try to raise this issue, at the very mention of it, we are labelled anti-Semitic. So, we didn&rsquo;t go into this particular issue of Mr. Soros today.