Hungary Prime Minister Viktor Orban managed to combine the extreme rights of Europe around him and his Fidesz party. As a result, he created a new coalition called "Patriots of Europe", which became the third largest block in the European Parliament. This achievement emphasizes that Orban has managed to destroy attempts by political isolation.
"Patriots of Europe" remain in opposition, as centrist pro -European parties still control a large majority in Brussels. This limits the ability of extreme right to influence the EU's legislative process, but their growth can provide more financing, visibility and popularity in parliamentary sessions.
Potentially more significant changes can take place in the EU Council where the real government of the European Union. Currently, the Patriots control only one place in the Council occupied by Orban himself, but is an indirect impact on positions in the Netherlands and Italy. It is expected that their presence in the Council may grow after the elections in Austria and the Czech Republic, where extreme rights have a chance of success.
This development can create new challenges for EU unity, especially in budget issues, expansion and foreign policy, including Ukraine. The EU is now finding ways to bypass Orban on Ukrainian issues, but with the increase in the number of "patriots" in the Council, this task will become more difficult.
Hungary has repeatedly caused dissatisfaction among EU countries, in particular through permission to citizens of Russia and Belarus to enter the EU without security checks. This causes discussions about the possibility of suspension of Hungary membership in the Schengen area.
Against the background of the growing popularity of far -right parties in Europe, Viktor Orban can find powerful allies, such as Herbert Kikl, the leader of the Austrian Party of Freedom (FPO), which has already entered into a political alliance with the Orban Party.
