cs flag go to the original language article
This article has been translated by Artificial Intelligence (AI). The news agency is not responsible for the content of the translated article. The original was published by CTK.

ANO movement, Hungarian Fidesz, and Austrian FPÖ form a new political alliance

by AI | 30.Jun 2024 | Europe in brief AI

Representatives of the Czech government parties are critical of the grouping. Other politicians speak of the grouping’s pro-Russian orientation.

View of the plenary session of the European Parliament Photo: Philippe Stirnweiss/European Parliament/dpa

“`html

Vienna/Prague – The ANO movement of former Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, the Hungarian party Fidesz of current Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, and the Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) are forming a new political alliance Patriots for Europe. This was announced today at a press conference in Vienna by FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl. They are also calling for cooperation with other European parties, with the aim of forming a new faction in the European Parliament (EP). This can happen if it includes MEPs from at least seven different EU countries.

All three leaders made speeches and then signed a manifesto for the new alliance. According to Babiš, they are calling for more decision-making at the national level, better defense of external borders against migration, and a revision of the Green Deal. Babiš also warned that European climate policy is threatening the competitiveness of the European economy. “What is happening in Brussels now is not green policy, but poisonous green policy. It does not heal us, but poisons us,” added Orbán.

Czech government party representatives are critical of the group. “A nationalist faction is being formed that will not aim to achieve anything in Europe, but is being created for the interests of national politicians at home,” said newly elected MEP Jan Farský (STAN). He expects the faction to propose measures that will not succeed in the EP but will allow politicians to differentiate themselves from the EU. “Their activities will aim to weaken cooperation and the EU, which is against the national interests of all EU states. But it is in Russia’s interest,” he added.

Other politicians also speak of the group’s pro-Russian orientation. “Both Orbán and FPÖ have long refused to support Ukraine and also question that Russia is a threat to Europe,” said MEP Veronika Vrecionová (ODS). According to her, it confirms that ANO and Babiš represent a security threat to the Czech Republic. “Now it is absolutely clear – Andrej Babiš is a friend of Russia’s friends,” she added.

TOP 09 and Chamber of Deputies leader Markéta Pekarová Adamová talks about the deepening alliance between Babiš and Orbán. “No one can now doubt that Andrej Babiš is inspired by Orbán’s authoritarianism and support for the Kremlin. We need to call things by their proper names: Patriots for Europe are the fifth column of Russia in the EU,” she added.

Deputy Prime Minister Ivan Bartoš (Pirates) takes the group as confirmation that Babiš is a security risk. “From a StB agent, he has become the author of a brown manifesto of authoritarian and strongly nationalist parties,” he said. Deputy Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Jan Bartošek (KDU-ČSL) thinks that ANO has voluntarily renounced any possibility of achieving anything positive for the Czech Republic in the EU. “Their MEPs will just collect royal pay and cheaply criticize everything that comes from the EU. And Putin is laughing in Moscow,” he wrote.

“`