Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is once again turning up the volume against the European Union this time calling Brussels a greater threat to Hungary’s future than Vladimir Putin’s Russia.
Speaking to supporters ahead of Hungary’s spring elections, Orbán described the EU as “a source of imminent danger,” comparing it to the Soviet regime that ruled Hungary until 1989. He dismissed concerns about Russia’s authoritarianism, telling the crowd that those who value freedom should not fear the East, but Brussels. According to him, warnings about Putin are exaggerated, while the influence of EU institutions is a more immediate and tangible concern.
The remarks come at a politically sensitive moment. Orbán’s ruling Fidesz party is currently trailing the opposition Tisza party in national polls, with elections just weeks away. His speech signals a clear attempt to rally nationalist voters by framing the campaign as a fight for sovereignty against outside interference.
Since returning to power in 2010, Orbán has steadily reshaped Hungary’s political system. His government has promoted nationalist, anti-immigration, and anti-LGBTQ policies, while making constitutional changes that critics say weakened checks and balances. Media independence and academic freedoms have also been significantly curtailed during his tenure.
Orbán’s confrontational stance toward the EU has often isolated him within the bloc. However, it has earned him praise from former U.S. President Donald Trump, who recently endorsed him and called him a strong leader with a record of delivering results. Orbán, in turn, applauded Trump for pushing back against what he described as a liberal global political and media network.
Hungary’s relationship with Russia further complicates the picture. Orbán has opposed military and financial support for Ukraine and has frequently criticized EU and NATO policies regarding the war, positioning himself as a dissenting voice within the alliance.
With elections approaching, Orbán’s message is clear: he is framing the vote not just as a domestic political contest, but as a broader struggle over Hungary’s direction whether aligned more closely with European integration or with his vision of national sovereignty.
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