In his reaction to the Orbán government's latest smear campaign targeting the president of the European Commission, Jean Claude Juncker stated: "The conservatives in Hungary in no way whatsoever represent Christian democratic values." Juncker also stated that he's "of the opinion that there's no place for them in the European People's Party." Juncker is a prominent member of the EPP and his remarks were unexpected, as the EPP decided at its annual conference at the end of last year not to expel Fidesz. The EPP earlier faced calls to do so from some of its members in the European Parliament.