Members of the center-right European People's Party (EPP), the largest political group in the European Parliament, have voted to change some rules to allow the ouster of Hungary's ruling Fidesz party from the group, an EPP spokesman said today.
Many EPP parties oppose the participation of Prime Minister Viktor Orban's right-wing party, which they say has weakened democracy in Hungary and restricted media freedom and other freedoms in the European Union. Fidesz denies the allegations.
Of the EPP's 180 members in the European Parliament, 148 voted in favor of the change, 28 against and four abstained.
“The change of rules in the procedures has just been approved,” an EPP spokesman said in a text message.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has announced that his party is leaving the EPP.
“I inform you that Fidesz members are leaving the EPP group”, with “immediate effect”, the party leader wrote in a letter posted on Twitter by one of his ministers, describing this step as “undemocratic, unjust and unacceptable”. .