Slovakia's Robert Fico in talks with Viktor Orbán about his Smer party joining Patriots for Europe

Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán are holding talks connected Fico's Smer statement joining Patriots for Europe (PfE).

This was confirmed to Euronews by Balázs Orbán, nan governmental head of Viktor Orbán (not related), during nan European Council gathering connected Thursday successful Brussels.

"There are ongoing consultations betwixt nan 2 premier ministers," Balázs Orbán said.

Fico's Smer was expelled from nan Party of European Socialists (PES) past week for "breaching nan values" of nan centre-left statement family successful a unanimous decision.

The PES has wide criticised Fico successful nan past for his Eurosceptic and anti-Ukrainian narratives.

Orbán-Fico-Babiš axis successful nan EU?

The confederation is different but not surprising. Fico has spent his governmental profession associated pinch societal democrats.

The departure to nan PfE would people a important rupture pinch nan historical opinionated of his Smer party, which, if nan move is confirmed, would subordinate nan acold correct successful nan European parliament.

Yet, Fico and Orbán stock a communal Brussels agenda: pushing for a harder statement connected migration, opposing nan Green Deal, and taking anti-LBGTQ+ stances.

"The doorway is unfastened from our side. This is thing Robert Fico and his statement will person to decide. He comes from a left-wing world, but nan sovereignist attack is simply a beardown 1 successful his party. We will spot what they decide."

The PfE holds 86 seats successful nan European Parliament, making it nan third-largest governmental group. If Smer joins, they guidelines to summation 5 MEPs, bringing them to 91 seats.

Beyond nan dynamics successful nan European Parliament, nan alteration could beryllium much profound astatine nan European Council. The victor of nan Czech elections, Andrej Babiš, who is presently holding talks to shape a authorities successful Prague, is besides a personnel of Patriots.

Together, nan PfE could person 3 sitting premier ministers astatine nan European Council, wherever nan EU's 27 leaders statement alongside nan Commission nan astir pressing strategical priorities for Europe, and each holds a veto.

Balázs Orbán has expressed assurance that this script would unfold

Fico not yet decided connected Patriots offer

Euronews reached retired for comments to nan agency of PM Fico, nan Smer party's office successful Slovakia, and to statement MEPs successful Brussels. While acknowledging this is simply a statement matter, they did not supply further details.

Fico said connected Monday successful Abu Dhabi, during a visit, that Smer had received offers from various factions successful nan European Parliament and would "think cautiously astir this."

Fico slammed nan PES, which unanimously expelled him, saying that they had abandoned authentic left-wing values successful favour of nan mean voter.

The Party of European Socialists should beryllium "renamed to nan statement of European homosexuals and warmongers", he said, according to section media successful Slovakia.

Sources pinch nonstop knowledge of nan Smer statement said that Fico could besides see different options beyond nan Patriots, specified arsenic establishing a caller governmental group pinch left-wing nationalist parties, specified arsenic nan Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (ASW) successful Germany.

Patriots MEPs opportunity they would invited Fico's Smer

Euronews talked to respective MEPs from PfE, who said they would invited them into their group.

One MEP who did not wish to beryllium named arsenic nan discussions are successful advancement said nan Hungarians are starring nan negotiations astatine nan premier ministerial level.

Other delegations, specified arsenic nan Portuguese Chega and nan Spanish Vox, besides signalled their openness, contempt Smer's erstwhile affiliation pinch nan Socialists of Portugal and Spain.

“We ever invited converts”, 1 MEP told Euronews, who did not wish to beryllium named arsenic nan talks are delicate, saying they would not beryllium amazed if Smer joins nan group arsenic nan Slovak statement has “very converging governmental positions” pinch PfE members connected issues specified arsenic migration, LGBTQ+ people’s rights, and nan Green Deal.

Fico has fought respective times pinch nan EU, holding disconnected connected sanctions against Russia for its penetration of Ukraine, LGBTQ+ rights, ambiance regulation, and China.

Earlier this year, Fico was criticised by nan European Commission for attending Russia's Victory Day parade successful Moscow, wherever he thanked nan Red Army for liberating Slovakia from Nazi norm during World War II.

The EU High Representative Kaja Kallas powerfully opposed personnel states from travelling to Moscow.