Italian deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini (3rdR) stands on stage with German co-leader of Alternative for Germany (AfD) Tino Chrupalla (2ndR), member of the Austrian Freedom Party (FPOe) Harald Vilimsky (4thR), Head of Czech Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) Tomio Okamura (5thR) and the head of Bulgarian party Revival, Kostadin Kostadinov at the end of a convention of the EP leaders of the ID on 3 December 2023 at the Fortezza da Basso in Florence.

Populism, Conservatism and Europe’s Electoral Politics: The Post-Covid Dilemmas of the European Right

‘2023 in fact demonstrated, if demonstration were needed, that a deep social, political, and ideological cleavage now divides electorates across Europe, separating progressive, educated, urban, middle class and younger voters from the alienated rural, working class and older conservative voters living outside the fashionable urban centres. This cleavage was dramatically evident in election results in Spain, Slovakia, Poland, and Holland in the course of 2023.’

Péter Szijjártó (L) with Speaker of the Knesset Amir Ohana on 9 February 2024 at the UN in New York,

Hungary, Czechia Oppose EU Sanctions on Israeli Citizens

Hungary and Czechia have been the only members of the EU that have consistently declared support for the Israeli government, both before and since the 7 October massacres. Last December, they were among the ten nations that voted against a resolution at the UN General Assembly calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.

ECR Co-Chair Nicola Procaccini addresses the European Parliament in Strasbourg in the debate on the frozen EU funds for Hungary on 17 January 2024.

European Reformers and Conservatives Get Stronger as Elections Approach

According to Italian press reports, on the margins of the latest EU summit Viktor Orbán indicated that Fidesz is ready to join the ECR after the elections. The move would significantly swell the ranks of the ECR, considering that Fidesz is projected to win 14 seats (of Hungary’s 21), sending quite a sizable delegation to the European Parliament.

Viktor Orbán Discusses Success at EU Summit, Advocates for Peace in Radio Interview

Orbán told public radio that Hungary only consented to financial contributions allocated towards efforts to prevent the collapse of the Ukrainian state at the Thursday Council meeting. He said peace was the crucial issue as regards the war between Russia and Ukraine but ‘the situation is not good in this respect, since Brussels is suffering from war fever’.