Orban asks EPP members to reconsider proposal to expel Fidesz

Prime Minister Viktor Orban has written to members of the European People's Party that initiated the expulsion of his ruling Fidesz from the centre-right bloc, apologising for "offensive language", but maintaining his political positions. Leading Fidesz politicians have said in recent days that the party would make no compromises on fundamental political issues in its dispute with the EPP. In his latest interview with Hungarian public radio, Orban said no compromise was possible when it came to migration and protecting Christian culture, "but we can talk about everything else". According to a copy of the prime minister's letter obtained by Reuters, Orban asked the leader of the Flemish Christian Democrats, Wouter Beke, to reconsider his proposal to expel Fidesz. Responding to a query by MTI, Bertalan Havasi, the PM's press chief, confirmed the letter's authenticity along with Reuters' report that similar letters have been sent to all the EPP members that joined the proposal to expel Fidesz from the grouping.