This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-47622921

The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Hungary Orban: Party faces European expulsion vote in Brussels Hungary Orban: Party faces European suspension vote in Brussels
(about 2 hours later)
Hungary's defiance of EU policies is facing a new test as the European Parliament's biggest bloc decides whether to expel or suspend the party of Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Hungary's defiance of EU policies is facing a new test as the European Parliament's biggest bloc decides whether to suspend or expel the party of Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
His Fidesz party is part of the centre-right European People's Party bloc.His Fidesz party is part of the centre-right European People's Party bloc.
For many right-wing, anti-immigration parties, Mr Orban is a hero for regularly castigating Brussels.For many right-wing, anti-immigration parties, Mr Orban is a hero for regularly castigating Brussels.
Some call him Europe's Donald Trump, as he sees the EU "threatened" by Muslim migrants, who are kept out of Hungary.Some call him Europe's Donald Trump, as he sees the EU "threatened" by Muslim migrants, who are kept out of Hungary.
A number of members of the European People's Party (EPP) bloc want Fidesz thrown out because of its anti-EU campaigning.A number of members of the European People's Party (EPP) bloc want Fidesz thrown out because of its anti-EU campaigning.
Another option for the EPP's 260 delegates will be to suspend it. Fidesz has threatened to leave the bloc if that happens. But EPP vice-chair Esther de Lange said a proposal had been made for a temporary suspension of Fidesz while it was monitored by a committee of "wise men". Fidesz has threatened to leave the bloc if that happens.
Will Orban's party be expelled? Will Orban's party be suspended?
This sort of move is drastic by European Parliament standards, and reports on Wednesday suggested the EPP might not go that far.This sort of move is drastic by European Parliament standards, and reports on Wednesday suggested the EPP might not go that far.
Thirteen parties in the bloc called for Fidesz to be expelled because of an anti-EU billboard campaign which attacked European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.Thirteen parties in the bloc called for Fidesz to be expelled because of an anti-EU billboard campaign which attacked European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.
The posters also showed the billionaire US philanthropist George Soros, who is a regular target for Fidesz, which accuses him of encouraging illegal migration to Europe. Mr Soros funds civil society groups that help migrants or defend human rights.The posters also showed the billionaire US philanthropist George Soros, who is a regular target for Fidesz, which accuses him of encouraging illegal migration to Europe. Mr Soros funds civil society groups that help migrants or defend human rights.
Critics see the attacks on Mr Soros - a Jewish survivor of the Nazi Holocaust in Hungary - as anti-Semitic.Critics see the attacks on Mr Soros - a Jewish survivor of the Nazi Holocaust in Hungary - as anti-Semitic.
The problem for the EPP is that losing its Fidesz members would weaken it - just as the EU gears up for European elections in late May.The problem for the EPP is that losing its Fidesz members would weaken it - just as the EU gears up for European elections in late May.
The EPP is an alliance of about 80 parties, but Fidesz has proven that it can win elections convincingly and it has a two-thirds majority in the Hungarian parliament, making it Hungary's dominant political force.The EPP is an alliance of about 80 parties, but Fidesz has proven that it can win elections convincingly and it has a two-thirds majority in the Hungarian parliament, making it Hungary's dominant political force.
Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, who heads Germany's Christian Democrats - the biggest party in the group - has suggested a membership "freeze" for a few months might be the way forward. Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz has backed the idea, proposing a six-month suspension. The idea of a temporary suspension gathered pace as the meeting got under way in Brussels.
It had earlier been proposed by the leader of Germany's Christian Democrats, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, and by Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, who favoured a six-month period.
However, Mr Orban's chief of staff made clear that his party would immediately quit if suspended from the bloc.However, Mr Orban's chief of staff made clear that his party would immediately quit if suspended from the bloc.
"It is about the dignity of Fidesz and the country," Gergely Gulyas told MTI state news agency."It is about the dignity of Fidesz and the country," Gergely Gulyas told MTI state news agency.
Mr Juncker says Mr Orban should be kicked out: "I think that Mr Orban is a long way from basic Christian Democratic values."Mr Juncker says Mr Orban should be kicked out: "I think that Mr Orban is a long way from basic Christian Democratic values."
Could they patch up the quarrel?Could they patch up the quarrel?
This is not just about some incendiary posters. Mr Orban also dismissed his critics in the EPP as "useful idiots" - a phrase generally attributed to Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin, who was referring in the 1920s to naive Western admirers of his brand of socialism.This is not just about some incendiary posters. Mr Orban also dismissed his critics in the EPP as "useful idiots" - a phrase generally attributed to Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin, who was referring in the 1920s to naive Western admirers of his brand of socialism.
However, Mr Orban did appear to want to end the row last week when the EPP's German leader Manfred Weber visited Budapest in search of an apology.However, Mr Orban did appear to want to end the row last week when the EPP's German leader Manfred Weber visited Budapest in search of an apology.
Mr Weber is a significant figure in the EU who could succeed Mr Juncker as EU Commission chief if the EPP wins the European elections, as it did in 2014.Mr Weber is a significant figure in the EU who could succeed Mr Juncker as EU Commission chief if the EPP wins the European elections, as it did in 2014.
The offending posters along Mr Weber's route were hastily papered over and Mr Orban sent apologetic letters to the 13 parties that had called for Fidesz to be kicked out.The offending posters along Mr Weber's route were hastily papered over and Mr Orban sent apologetic letters to the 13 parties that had called for Fidesz to be kicked out.
"I would hereby like to express my apologies, if you found my quote personally offensive," he told Wouter Beke, leader of Belgium's Flemish Christian Democrats (CD&V)."I would hereby like to express my apologies, if you found my quote personally offensive," he told Wouter Beke, leader of Belgium's Flemish Christian Democrats (CD&V).
But Mr Beke said he expected more than a personal apology - it was a matter of "respect for European values and better co-operation in guarding the EU's external borders".But Mr Beke said he expected more than a personal apology - it was a matter of "respect for European values and better co-operation in guarding the EU's external borders".
He added: "I see no change there. The CD&V sticks to its position: no place for Fidesz in the EPP."He added: "I see no change there. The CD&V sticks to its position: no place for Fidesz in the EPP."
And the anti-EU ad campaign was still visible on Hungarian news websites after Mr Weber had gone.And the anti-EU ad campaign was still visible on Hungarian news websites after Mr Weber had gone.
Petteri Orpo, of Finland's conservative Kokoomus party, also remained opposed to Mr Orban.Petteri Orpo, of Finland's conservative Kokoomus party, also remained opposed to Mr Orban.
"At this point, letters will not help. Fidesz should show its commitment to the EPP by its actions," he tweeted."At this point, letters will not help. Fidesz should show its commitment to the EPP by its actions," he tweeted.
What are the wider issues?What are the wider issues?
May's European elections are seen as an acid test for the EU, which is under fire from nationalists in many of the 28 member states.May's European elections are seen as an acid test for the EU, which is under fire from nationalists in many of the 28 member states.
Mr Orban claims that Europe is in the midst of an existential struggle to defend "Christian" values.Mr Orban claims that Europe is in the midst of an existential struggle to defend "Christian" values.
He attacks the liberal consensus underpinning EU institutions, advocating instead a vigorous new Central European powerbase.He attacks the liberal consensus underpinning EU institutions, advocating instead a vigorous new Central European powerbase.
The European Parliament has launched a legal procedure against his government which could result in sanctions. EU partners accuse Fidesz of undermining democracy and the rule of law.The European Parliament has launched a legal procedure against his government which could result in sanctions. EU partners accuse Fidesz of undermining democracy and the rule of law.