François-Xavier Bellamy went to Budapest on Monday, at the invitation of three heads of state and government gathered by the Hungarian foundation for a civic Hungary. MEP LR and chairman of the French delegation in the majority PPE group is due to take part in a conference on Tuesday which will be broadcast online on Wednesday. Theme of the exchange: " An uncensored Europe, European leaders on the future of Europe ".
In addition to François-Xavier Bellamy, the event brings together Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa and the President of the Republic of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic. " There is one thing that I believe to be absolutely decisive today is to be able to maintain the dialogue because the European Union is threatened by real fractures. We have talked a lot about the North / South divide, but the East / West divide seems to me even more worrying today, ”explains the elected official from Versailles. The former philosophy professor wants to seize this opportunity to exchange " in a frank, open and constructive manner " with European politicians who are members of his political family (EPP).
"Those who accuse me of having gone to dialogue (...) have understood nothing"
If certain elected officials, like the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, are sometimes classified among the " populist " leaders , François-Xavier Bellamy is wary of the " ease " with which the " very often unfounded " convictions follow one another. " During the coronavirus crisis, we heard that Viktor Orban would have almost abolished democracy in Hungary when in reality his law on the state of emergency contained provisions quite similar to those voted in France. They have also been suspended in Hungary when they are not yet suspended in our country ”.
For François-Xavier Bellamy, those who maintain this kind of attack " weaken " the Europe they " pretend to defend ". The interested party also anticipates possible criticisms: " Those who dare to reproach me for having gone to dialogue with members of my own political family and European leaders, have understood nothing, I believe, to what Europe should be. and democracy ”.
Bellamy invites LR deputies and senators to Paris on July 15
The MEP calls for an understanding of the different European visions. He wishes to take advantage of this conference to discuss the relationship between Europeans and liberal democracy. " The founding struggle against the ideology of Soviet communism must keep us deeply attached to the respect for freedom and freedom of conscience which are at the heart of democracy, " said the parliamentarian.
In addition, on July 15, François-Xavier Bellamy will receive LR deputies and senators in a cafe in the 7th arrondissement of Paris, as he did last year, to mark the importance of the collaboration he wishes close between LR parliamentary groups. He considers it important to build on common reflections on several subjects, such as agricultural policy or European budgetary aid. Among the MEPs also invited to this pot of friendship, nearly 70 elected officials responded last year.
