As a KDNP MEP you stayed in the European People’s Party until Péter Magyar and the MEPs of Tisza joined last year. Do you still talk to Manfred Weber?
We say hi to eachother. He knows that I know him very well. He is aware that I know the truth about him.
What’s the truth?
I know that he has an unfortunate Hungarophobia. He has previously proved this publicly, and it became even more obvious during the debate about the Hungarian EU-Presidency in Strasbourg.
Could it be a political tactic or a personal matter for him that he wants a change of government in Hungary?
Both. It is sad that he has been driven by resentment, ever since he declared in 2019 that he does not want to be President of the European Commission with the votes of the Hungarians. With this, he established a clear difference in values between him and Viktor Orbán. What happened was especially hurtful for the EPP: a party that has seen better days, and is deserving of more.
That’s the past. Is Weber convinced that Péter Magyar and the Tisza Party are suitable for leading a country, or would he side with anyone who has some chance of replacing his opponent?
He does not have a better option right now. There is no doubt that Tisza achieved relatively good results in the European elections last June. It is disappointing for me that they ended up in the European People’s Party after that. From a political point of view, it is perhaps understandable that Weber could not resist the temptation. However, this does not mean that Péter Magyar should be named as the saviour of the Hungarian future. Moreover, for the liberal world, including the EPP itself and its leader, Donald Tusk’s actions in Poland serve as an example, and they would like to apply that solution in Hungary as well. May God save us all from this possibility! For now, Weber and Magyar are held together by a common interest, namely the replacement of Viktor Orbán, which is ultimately at the expense of European Christian democracy.
How is the condition of the European People’s Party today?
I am convinced that even today there are thirty-five to forty MEPs in the EPP Group, with whom we must think together on issues concerning the future of Europe.
In an interview earlier, you talked about Weber’s political career not ending well. However, the EPP is the largest party in the European Parliament, and together with the left and the liberals, it is essentially a dominant player. I wouldn’t call that a failure.
In politics, the most important thing is authenticity. Weber has not been self-identical for years, everyone feels that. There is no doubt: he’s good at political maneuvering, but the moment the left-liberal no longer needs him, , he’ll be thrown away without hesitation.
How is the potential strengthening of the Patriots, and of course their potential cooperation with the ECR?
We are in no rush. We have natural and possible meeting points. Major political changes are taking place in the world, which may also affect this process. The fact that our full name is Patriots for Europe carries a strong message, that we will not give up our intention to strengthen Europe. There is a common goal for which we can find additional partners, even along certain topics. It is still an open question as to when the mentioned courtship will become a marriage, but the possibility exists in the long term.
Georgia Meloni, who was called a fascist only a few years ago, is almost already welcomed with a red carpet in Brussels, while the Patriots can’t even get positions. Why would the ECR give up its influence for such an ally?
Let’s see what happens next, but one thing is for sure: the political center is no longer with the EPP, but shifted in the direction of the ECR and the Patriots. This is an important change!
Donald Trump was inaugurated, he is yet again the president of the United States. Who should he call if he wants to ‘talk to Europe’?
Viktor Orbán. No question about it. I think he already does.
Isn’t that an exaggeration?
The Hungarian prime minister can certainly provide valuable insights to the new president if approached regarding European affairs. As a politician who has worked for Europe for decades, he can give a realistic picture. Ursula von der Leyen belongs to the previous establishment, the others are inexperienced in the European Commission, and Germany barely has a functioning government. Who else would he call?
What will the new leadership in Washington bring to the European Union?
Trump’s presidency is both a challenge and an opportunity for the EU – this turn of events is obviously joyful for the right, but for the time being, as I see it, it is more of a nightmare for the left. Let’s not forget: European cooperation is in the interest of all its citizens.
We can only be understood as a community in the world, but this requires us to be on a common platform only on matters necessary for this, otherwise the room for maneuver of individual nations must remain. The former includes the single market, competitiveness, the removal of internal borders and addressing some key challenges. Unfortunately, this is not the case today, the balance has tipped, lecturing is constantly going on, and meanwhile Europe has no real influence on global affairs.. This is the case with the Russian-Ukrainian war, the events in the Middle East or with Africa as well.
The Hungarian government expects the end of the neighboring war from the new American leadership.
And they have every reason to. Under the encouragement of the previous leadership, Europe has dragged itself into an unwinnable war. The situation in Ukraine is slowly becoming unmanageable and unfinanceable. Especially so if Washington gets out of the story, which seems very likely now. But due to the migration threat, we would also have to deal with the situation in Syria and Lebanon, as well as in the Middle East.
And what is György Hölvényi doing in Africa?
I am convinced that the fate of Africa is a European matter. In addition to this, as a Hungarian politician it is an advantage that you are not burdened by the difficulties associated with post-colonial traumas, like in the case of Western colleagues. Europe must establish partnership relations in Africa, both in the humanitarian and economic fields. I see strengthening education in the region as a key issue, and I participate in this work for the second term as a standing rapporteur. I consider it crucial that church-maintained institutions cannot be excluded from support on ideological grounds. We are working on this. The presence provided by the Hungary Helps program has been giving prestige to Hungarian participation in this project for years. There is also a serious security issue: in Europe, the political left encouraged hundreds of thousands of people to leave the crisis regions, portraying migration as a positive process. The sovereigntist position, on the other hand, is based on common sense, which prioritizing local assistance, and the fact that refugee status must be assessed outside of Europe’s borders.
Isn’t there already some shift in European decision-making regarding this?
Orbán’s statements are being echoed more and more in the Western European discourse, but the concrete measures so far do not give much reason for optimism for the time being. Just look at the recently adopted „electoral” migration pact or the record fine imposed on Hungary.
Interview publshed at Mandiner. hu on the 27th of January, 2025.