TL:DR – Tisza MEPs Reject EU Mercosur Safeguards in Vote at European Parliament
• Tisza MEPs from Hungary voted against the EU Mercosur trade deal safeguards on Tuesday, breaking from the EPP for the third time this month.
• Tisza stated their stance protects Hungarian farmers, emphasising the prioritisation of national interests.
• Seven Tisza MEPs were sanctioned by the EPP, barring them from speaking at plenary sessions for six months.
• Tisza is campaigning to unseat Viktor Orbán‘s government in the elections scheduled for 12 April.
• Tisza currently leads Orbán’s Fidesz Party in opinion polls.
Hungary’s Tisza Party breaks ranks with EPP in bid to counter Brussels puppet claims
MEPs from Hungary’s main opposition party, Tisza, voted against a resolution at the European Parliament concerning safeguards related to the European Union’s Mercosur trade deal on Tuesday. This marks the third time within a month that Tisza has voiced its dissent from the European People’s Party (EPP), which is significant as it underscores growing fractures within the party over key policies.
The rejection of the Mercosur safeguards aimed at protecting Hungarian farmers was reinforced by a party statement that expressed support for local agricultural interests. “Tisza stands by Hungarian farmers even when it means going against the mainstream in Brussels,” the statement said.
Tisza Breaks Rank with EPP Over Mercosur Deal
In January, Tisza supported a resolution to refer the Mercosur agreement to the European Court of Justice. Tisza Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) also notably absented themselves from a vote backing EPP politician Ursula von der Leyen during a motion of censure initiated by the far right, leading to sanctions against all seven Tisza MEPs, prohibiting them from speaking at plenary sessions for the next six months. “We accept the sanctions. Because Hungarian interests are more important than any compromise in Brussels,” Tisza reiterated.
An unnamed EPP source, speaking to Euronews, expressed concerns about Tisza’s distancing from both Manfred Weber, EPP chairman, and Ursula von der Leyen, particularly in relation to their stance on Ukraine. The EPP supports Ukraine’s expedited accession to the EU, while Tisza has declared opposition to fast-track accession, pledging to hold a referendum in Hungary if it forms a government.
Tisza’s Campaign Against Orbán’s Government
Under the leadership of Péter Magyar, Tisza is vying to unseat Viktor Orbán’s nationalist government in elections scheduled for 12 April. Currently, Tisza leads Orbán’s Fidesz Party in opinion polls, despite government claims that an opposition victory would threaten Hungary’s sovereignty. Tisza joined the EPP Group in 2024 after securing 30 per cent of the Hungarian vote at the European elections.
Manfred Weber has distanced himself from ongoing campaign developments, stating, “I’m wondering why I, Manfred Weber, play such a prominent role there. This is not my choice; it is solely Hungary’s choice about its future.” He added that Tisza appears to be focused on pressing issues affecting citizens.
Challenges for Tisza Ahead of Elections
According to Roland Freudenstein, co-founder of the Brussels Freedom Hub and former EPP think tank member, Tisza faces significant challenges as the Orbán government portrays the centre-right EPP as an anti-Hungarian force. Freudenstein stated, “Tisza constantly has to defend itself against the accusation of being a traitor to the nation.” He noted that Tisza is likely to avoid discussions on Ukraine until after the April elections.
Hungarian political analyst Szabolcs Dull remarked that Tisza is tailoring its decisions to the domestic political environment, suggesting that Weber and the EPP will overlook these strategies leading up to the elections.
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