12 parliamentarians from Hungarian Fidesz sit in the EU Parliament. Right now, however, they do not belong to any party group.
Viktor Orbán has said that the party is interested in joining the ECR. In that case, they would share a group with, among others, the Sweden Democrats, the True Finns, Italy’s brothers and Pis.
Refers to the NATO application
But Orbán does not seem to be met with a warm embrace. According to Charlie Weimers, the Sweden Democrats are considering leaving the group in that case, according to Politico.
“The image of Ukraine has deteriorated significantly among the right-wing parties in the Nordics after the decisions the country made after Russia’s full-scale invasion, including the country’s reluctance to ratify Sweden’s NATO application,” he writes to the news site.
Could be third largest
Others within other ECR parties are also skeptical that Fidesz would be part of the group.
– It is possible, but then his party would definitely have to change its attitude towards Russia’s war in Ukraine, says EU parliamentarian Roberts Zīle.
According to opinion polls compiled by Politico, the ECR could become the third largest group in the European Parliament after the elections this summer.
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Hear how the Jas Gripen can be decisive in the NATO process. Photo: David Westling