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The debate on ruling Fidesz’s membership in the EPP is about immigration, says official

Gergely Gulyás said Weber and Orbán shared the intention that Fidesz should remain an EPP member, with the two sides having an interest in an agreement

The head of the Prime Minister’s Office has said that the debate on ruling Fidesz’s membership in the European People’s Party (EPP) is actually about immigration, as the EPP members’ approach to the issue is determined by their stance on migration.

Gergely Gulyás said Fidesz had several conflicts with the parties that initiated its exclusion from the EPP because almost all of them had voted in favor of mandatory migrant quotas.

Gulyás said Weber and Orbán shared the intention that Fidesz should remain an EPP member, with the two sides having an interest in an agreement. Gulyas added, however, that both sides have some “boundaries” which they are unwilling to go beyond.

PM Orbán made it clear that Hungary cannot and does not want to make concessions in terms of defending its external borders, rejecting migration and protecting Christian culture, no matter what internal conflicts this approach generates within the European People Party.

Gulyás said the government welcomes that Weber has informed PM Orbán about his plans, among which defending external borders and halting migration are priorities, adding that this is why Hungary can support the German politician’s quest to become president of the European Commission.

Weber made it clear that if he were the EC president, he would take resolute action against migration and for the defense of external borders. “This is a common cause”, Gulyás said. Weber also stressed the need to totally halt illegal immigration, he said.