Budapest sees ‘similarities’ with Meloni’s Italy

Hungarian President Katalin Novák travelled to Italy to meet with government leaders, where she spoke of the similarities between both countries in their actions against irregular immigration, enlargement to the Western Balkans, and family values.

Novák visited Rome to meet the Italian government leaders and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. “Our strong friendship reflects the warm relations between Italy and Hungary”, Meloni commented on Twitter after the meeting at Palazzo Chigi.

Hungary’s first female and youngest president, Novák, tweeted that she spoke with Meloni about immigration, particularly the push and pull factors. “Both Hungary and Italy have a clear view, illegal immigration is a no-go!” she commented on social media.

During the visit, the Hungarian president met the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella. Among the topics discussed was the rapid integration of the Western Balkans into the EU “in the interests of Europe,” the diversification of energy supplies, and the protection of Christians as a “common responsibility”.

On the same day, she also held talks with the president of the Senate, Ignazio La Russa (Fdi/Ecr) and the president of the Chamber, Lorenzo Fontana (Lega/Id).

The meeting with La Russa focused on the demographic challenges and the solutions that the Hungarian government “have delivered and going to continue to deliver in the future”.

In an interview with Corriere della Sera, Novák defines herself as a Christian, conservative, proud to represent her homeland: “A strong identity and the affirmation of national interests are essential. (…) As for national interests and identities, Italy is a good example of how much citizens care about these values.”

“Today, Italy has a patriotic government, with an order of Christian values that favours families. We are happy to work with leaders who stand up for their nation’s interests and with whom we can speak in a voice of mutual respect,” she added.

Novák, a friend of Meloni for several years, underlines that the interests and intentions of Hungarians and Italians go in the same direction in terms of “resolute action against irregular immigration, enlargement to the Western Balkans, protection of Christians and defence of the values of family.”

A fragile friendship

In March 2021, Novák’s Fidesz party left the centre-right European People’s Party (EPP) political family following tensions related to the poor rule of law in Hungary.

Particularly, the “liberal” faction in the EPP, especially Nordic centre-right parties, reacted strongly to the successive breaches of the rule of law by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. When the latter realised there was enough majority to kick his party out of the EPP, he decided to leave voluntarily.

Meloni’s ruling Brothers of Italy party belongs to the European Conservatives and Reformists Party (ECR), but in order to become prime minister, she partnered with Forza Italia, which is an EPP member, as well as with Matteo Salvini’s extreme-right Lega.

Before the elections, such a coalition between ECR and EPP was “blessed” by EPP chief Manfred Weber during a visit to Rome. The Bavarian politician particularly said that Forza Italia should participate in such a government to ensure that Meloni will follow the EU path.

The “flirt” continued after the elections, as on 5 January, Weber met with Meloni in Rome, where potential collaboration between the centre-right and ultra-right parties at the EU level was discussed.

This triggered the reaction of the German right-wing parties. “There is no reason for further cooperation with the other parties of the Italian government in the European Parliament, as long as they cooperate with openly anti-European forces such as the German AfD,” told EURACTIV Germany foreign policy spokesperson of the CDU/CSU party group in the Bundestag, Jürgen Hardt.

German centre-right blows off Weber-Meloni EU plans

*Updated with comments from the delegation of Fratelli d’Italia in the ECR group. 
A potential alliance between the rightist European Conservatives and Reformists Group ECR and the centre-right European People’s Party (EPP) is off the table for the German conservatives, a senior …

A high-ranking EPP official told EURACTIV.com that such a “rapprochement” with Meloni was “neither discussed nor agreed within the party”. “There is a clear majority against such a cooperation,” the EPP official added.

(Federica Pascale | EURACTIV.it – Sarantis Michalopoulos | EURACTIV.com)

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