Hungary's ruling Fidesz party has left the European People's Party (EPP), the party's letter sent to the Secretary-General of the European People's Party in the European Parliament (EP) said on Thursday.

„Dear Secretary-General, I hereby inform the Presidency of the European People’s Party that Fidesz – the Hungarian Civic Union no longer wishes to remain a member of the European People’s Party and therefore withdraws following Article 9 of the Statute,“ the letter read.

It’s time to say goodbye. pic.twitter.com/2pV6zdbEBp

— Katalin Novák (@KatalinNovakMP) March 18, 2021

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán threatened in early March that his national-conservative party, Fidesz, would leave the EPP parliamentary group in the European Parliament if the group adopts new rules that would allow the suspension or exclusion of entire member parties.

After Fidesz withdrew from its parliamentary group, the European People’s Party announced that a procedure had been initiated to expel that Hungarian party with membership.

The existing rules have stipulated the EPP can only suspend each MP individually. Still, the EPP leadership has agreed on new rules of procedure to enable to suspend or exclude an entire MEP’s group or a whole party that violates the political principles of the Christian-Conservative political union or EU fundamental values.