German far-right leader to meet Hungarian Prime Minister Orbán

The leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany party (AfD), Alice Weidel, is expected in Budapest later on Wednesday for talks with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, less than two weeks before Germany’s parliamentary election.

Official talks are planned at Orbán’s official residence in the former Carmelite monastery in Budapest Castle, followed by a joint press conference at 11:20 am (1020 GMT).

Orbán previously told the newspaper Neue Zürcher Zeitung that Weidel had requested the meeting.

The AfD has long emphasized its proximity to Orbán’s right-wing populist and anti-EU policies.

Last year, Weidel said she had great admiration for Orbán, as well as for the leader of Austria’s far-right Freedom Party, Herbert Kickl.

However, the meeting could also be interesting for Orbán, who has been working for years to consolidate right-wing and far-right forces in Europe. The AfD is not yet a member of the right-wing Patriots of Europe group in the European Parliament, which Orbán founded.

The AfD is in second at around 20% in opinion polls ahead of the election on February 23.