Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban has defended his decision not to include the AfD in the new European Parliament faction, “Patriots for Europe”.
In an interview with the Neue Zürcher Zeitung, Orban described the AfD as a movement rather than a party, saying that “it’s a risk that the Rassemblement national didn’t take”. His party, Fidesz, has no experience with the AfD and no connections to it. Orban praised the AfD’s program, saying it sounds good for Hungary, with promises of tax cuts, a redefinition of the Green Deal, a return to nuclear energy and a strict migration policy. However, he declined to comment on internal German politics.
When asked if the AfD has extreme members, Orban acknowledged that there are statements that “are not part of the 21st-century political culture”. He recalled that even in his fight against the communist regime in Hungary, “extreme people emerged”. Orban believes that institutionalizing politics within a party makes it more predictable, but less exciting.
The prime minister announced that he will soon receive AfD leader Alice Weidel in Budapest, as she had previously reached out to him for a meeting. “The AfD could win 20% of the votes. If their leader wants to talk to me, why should I say no?” Orban said.