Viktor Orban is eyeing a new alliance, and it's not good news for Ursula von Der Leyen.
The troublesome Hungarian PM, and leader of the Fidesz party, is lacking a political home in the European Parliament, which is made up of a number of political alliances and factions. It has been at a loose end since his party fell out with the centre-right European People’s Party in 2021.
Orban pulled his party out of the EPP after it voted to change membership rules to exclude parties like Fidesz, which was facing accusations of weakening the judiciary.
At the time, Orban's exit from the alliance was seen as something that would weaken Hungary's influence across the bloc, and push his party towards the sidelines of politics.
Viktor Orban is eyeing a new alliance, and it's not good news for Ursula von Der Leyen
PA
But now, just three years on, it seems that Orban is looking to get that influence back.
He is now eyeing an alliance with the right-wing European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group.
Former Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, of the Law and Justice Party - a member of the ECR - said he would be "open" to Hungary joining the bloc after the EU elections in June.
Speaking at a press conference in the European Parliament last month, Morawiecki said: "I’m not sure if any changes might happen prior to the European elections. After the elections, me personally I’m open to Fidesz joining our ECR group, that [would] be part of the discussions and negotiations of course."
At the end of last year, Orban said talks with the ECR were ongoing.
Working alone, the Hungarian PM has caused enough trouble for Von der Leyen. He has delayed agreement on funding for Ukraine, delayed talks on Ukraine's EU membership, had Von der Leyen accused of giving in to blackmail by her own MEPs and forced her to threaten Hungary with the use of article 7, the "nuclear" option which would suspend its voting rights.
It is clear Viktor Orban is punching above his weight.
So there is no doubt that with the backing of the ECR - an alliance which includes Giorgia Meloni’s Brothers of Italy - things would only worsen when it comes to Hungary's troublesome influence.
Not only could the growth of this faction tip the balance of power towards right-wing eurosceptic parties in the European Parliament, it would also give Orban a bigger platform to cause yet more problems for the European Commission.
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It would shore up Fidesz's position on the right wing of the European parliament and it would add to his already significant political punching power.
If Von der Leyen decides to run for a second term at the EU elections and wins, there is no telling what kind of trouble a new alliance between Orban and the ECR could cause.
