Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1091272
11 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 10 MARCH 2019 KARL AZZOPARDI NATIONALIST Party sec- retary-general Clyde Puli has refused to commit the PN to a position on the proposed expulsion of ruling Hungarian party Fidesz from the European People's Party (EPP), the PN's political family. The controversy concerns Hungarian Prime Minister Vik- tor Orbán and his right-wing party's possible suspension over a series of anti-Brussels media campaigns accusing Brussels of pushing migration policies that "fundamentally threaten Hungary's security". On Monday, the EPP said that 12 parties from nine European Union countries had forwarded motions on the Fidesz party calling for its suspension. Two Swedish conservative parties (the Moderate Party and the Christian Democratic Party) initiated the process of attempting to have Fidesz removed from the EPP last week. The Flemish Christian Democrats (CD&V), the Wal- loon Conservative Human- ist Democratic Centre (CDH) and the Luxembourg Christian Socialist Party (CSV) have all sent a letter to EPP President Joseph Daul. And the Finnish Kokoomus (Christian Demo- cratic Party), the Portuguese Democratic and Social Centre- People's Party (CDS-PP) have also proposed the exclusion of the Hungarian party. But Clyde Puli refused to give his or the PN's views on the issue, opting to wait for the Fidesz party's chance to reply. "The EPP has given Orbán and his party a chance to ex- plain himself on a number of matters, we are waiting for the answers, and clarifications to the issues raised," he said. Puli refused to divulge further on the details and said that the party would be formulating a better opinion following an analysis of the responses given by the Fidesz party. "We have opinions on some of the wrongdoings by Orbán's party, and we will be forward- ing our concerns during the EPP meeting," he said. The parliamentary group will be discussing whether the party will be suspended or ex- cluded on the 20 March. The issue arose after the Hun- garian government launched a campaign claiming that fellow EPP member and European Commission president Jean Claude Junker, and American- Hungarian billionaire investor George Soros, were purposely introducing policies to flood Hungary with migrants. According to media reports, some of the parties which forwarded the motions have threatened to leave if the Fidesz party remains. On the other hand, some have opted to support the Fidesz party, and have publicly stated support towards keeping them in the parliamentary group. "It would be a big loss for the EPP. During the election campaign, many things are said, with dif- ferent nuances and accents… Without Fidesz votes, the EPP might not have a majority (af- ter the EU elections)," Kelemen Hunor, chief of the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Ro- mania party said. Jean Claude Junker did not hold back in expressing his opinions against Orbán's party. "The conservatives in Hungary in no way whatsoever represent Christian democratic values. I'm of the opinion that there's no place for them in the Euro- pean People's Party," he said. In a separate interview, Juncker said that he would be voting against Orbán's party. "I already said months ago that the EPP's biggest problem in the European elections has a name, and that is Orbán. I will support this exclusion," he said. The European Commission released a statement at the end of February, officially replying to the Hungarian government's campaign. "The claims made by the Hungarian government are at worst downright factu- ally incorrect or at best highly misleading." NEWS The Lands Authority receives requests to grant its consent for planning control applications which shall, or have been, submitted to the Planning Authority and which are partly/located on Government land for changes to the alignment of road and buildings, or for changes to the zoning, or for the establishment of zoning, building heights and alignment of roads and buildings. The Lands Authority Board of Governors gives notice that it is providing an opportunity for interested parties to make representations to the Board during a meeting with its representatives regarding the following requests: NOTICE IN TERMS OF ARTICLE 53(1)(E) OF THE LANDS AUTHORITY For further information kindly visit: www.landsauthority.org.mt/services/consultations/ Lands Authority St. Sebastian Street, Valletta a. PLA2/2018/0062 for change of building scheme alignment at 10, Triq il- Gilju c/w Triq il-Ponsjetta c/w Triqil-Fikus, Zabbar. b. PLA2/2019/0081 to establish building heights and road alignments of the rationalisation exercise site at Triq Familja Cumbo, Triq il- Ballata, Triq Alofju Wignacourt, Triq il-Mitħna, Triq Durumblat and Triq it-Torri, Mosta. c. PLA2/2019/0083 to adjust road alignment at Site il-Qortin, Corradino Industrial Estate, Paola. d. PLA2/2019/0084 proposal to shift part of building alignment at Site at Triq Dun Gejtanu Mannarino, Birkirkara. e. PLA2/2019/0085 proposal to shift part of building alignment Site at Triq l-Isqof Buhagiar, Paola. PUBLIC CONSULTATION The meeting will be held on the 22nd March 2019 at 14hrs at the Lands Authority, St. Sebestain Street, Valletta VLT2000. Any person with an interest to attend the meeting shall register his/her interest with the Secretary of the Board on anita.giordimaina@landsauthority.org.mt by not later than 20th March 2019. Clyde Puli refuses to divulge PN's position on Viktor Orbán's possible EPP suspension PN refusing to comment over EPP threat to sack Orbán The EPP will be discussing motions calling for the expulsion of Viktor Orbán's Fidesz party over anti-EU campaigns 'that breach EU values', but PN secretary-general Clyde Puli (inset) is refusing to commit himself to a stand on the issue