"Stupid allegations": Kramp-Karrenbauer threatens Orbán

CDU leader Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer has threatened to break off regular talks with Fidesz party of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. In the past, we have worked together with our sister parties in the EPP to ensure that Europe as a whole grows together, "Kramp-Karrenbauer told SPIEGEL.

This would also mean having the ability to refrain from divisive Europe over contentious issues. "The above goal has been jeopardized by the recent unreasonable and unfounded allegations of Fidesz under Viktor Orbán, which also weaken and harm the EPP as a whole," she said.

Orbán's government has accused EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and US investor George Soros of promoting illegal immigration.

CSU also distances itself from Orbán

The CDU will use the regular dialogue with Fidesz to make this statement clear. "If, however, no common understanding of the goals of the EPP could be achieved within this framework, the format would make no sense and therefore ended," said Kramp-Karrenbauer. "It is on the Hungarian side to prove that she still feels that she belongs to the EPP."

What Orbán is currently doing is unbearable, says the head of the CDU / CSU group in the European Parliament, Daniel Caspary. The domestic spokesman for the CSU in Bundestag Volker Ullrich said the campaign against Juncker and Soros was unacceptable.

"European values ​​apply to all"

"We also need to make it clear within the EPP Group that European values ​​such as the rule of law and the fundamental right apply to all, including Viktor Orbán." Last year, the CSU state group Orbán had invited as a guest to their New Year's Eve in Seeon, Upper Bavaria.

The EPP Group will debate next Wednesday on the further dealings with Orbán, also on the Group's Executive Committee, it will probably be topic. Theoretically, it would be possible to put an exclusion of Fidesz before the European elections on the way.

This would be conceivable, for example, on March 20, when the political assembly of the party, the committee, would have to decide on a similar push.

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