Thread by @SimonFRCox

Europe’s strong line against Orbán is a historic moment for democratic unity. Especially for conservatives. #Hungary

A celebratory thread. 1/

Orbán’s Party - Fidesz - is a long-standing member of @EPP , Europe’s main alliance of conservative parties. So is Angela Merkel’s CDU. 2/

As Orbán helmed Hungary towards menacing autocracy, the EPP just kept on paying out more rope. Emboldened, Fidesz became more outrageous. 3/

For a solid 2 years now, German conservatives refused to act against Orbán. He was too important to their EU politics.

Until yesterday’s vote. 4/

At the 11th hour @ManfredWeber signalled EPP would vote to use Parliament’s most powerful tool - which could lead to Hungary stripped of its EU voting rights - verging on expulsion. 5/

Fidesz will now quit EPP & far right parties will realign in Brussels. Poland’s PiS has promised to defend Fidesz (though Europe’s populist-nationalists have rarely proved loyal to each other...) 6/

So their vote on Hungary costs the EPP in Brussels. And as 2019 elections approach, they fear losing votes to far right & populists. 7/

Europe’s democratic Conservatives complain that *left* parties leaning towards corrupt autocracy, like politicians in Romania, haven’t faced the same resistance as Orbán.

They have a point. (Though these parties may not be as dangerous as Orbán’s) 8/

But 20th C taught that defending democracy is more important than keeping right - or left - alliances together. Nazis depended on German Cons to come to power - and Stalinists across the world depended on left toleration. 9/

US Conservative leaders aren’t heeding the lesson Hitler taught us. They’re pander to an autocrat.

But this week, Europe’s Conservatives* showed they get it. Our human rights, our societies, depend on right-left unity in defence of democracy.

*except UK’s.

Salut! 10/10