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Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban delivered his annual State of the Nation address to Parliament on Sunday (February 10th). REUTERS / Bernadett Szabo

For many months tensions have been mounting between Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and his allies in the European Parliament; but since Monday night, the rupture now seems inevitable.

With our correspondent in Brussels, Quentin Dickinson

The European People's Party (EPP) is a conservative formation and the most important European political family by the number of its member-parties. To trigger an ejection procedure against one of these, a complaint must be made by at least seven parties from five countries.

The outcry over the latest anti-European campaigns in the pro-government and print media throughout Hungary prompted no fewer than twelve parties from nine countries to formally demand exclusion or least, the suspension of Fidesz, the party headed by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

► A (re) read: Controversial poster campaign in Hungary: Viktor Orban does not loose anything

For these parties, which are mainly in Northern Europe and Benelux, but also in Greece and Portugal, it was too much provocation. On the contrary, French LRs again renewed their support for Victor Orban on Sunday.

The fate of the latter will be settled during the pre-summit of the EPP on 20 March, a few hours before the European Council of Heads of State and Government.