Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
HUNGARIAN PRIME MINISTER Viktor Orbán heads to the European Parliament later today as he remains at loggerheads with EU leaders.
Orbán is to tell MEPs later this morning about his Government’s priorities as it holds the Chair of the Council of the EU, which sets the agenda of meetings between European ministers.
Earlier this year the European leadership, including Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, were left outraged after, shortly after his Government took its seat as chair of the council, Obrán made a surprise visit to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
At the time, new Fine Gael MEPs requested that Hungary be blocked from voting within the EU over the behaviour. The Hungarian leader also visited the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The ‘peace trips’ were denounced by European leadership as they claimed he had no right to do so under the treaties outlining the role of the Council presidency. Von der Leyen told her diplomats not to attend meetings in Budapest as a result.
Now, half way through its mandate, Orbán will deliver the agenda of his Government’s presidency to MEPs at the European Parliament in Strasbourg later today.
As normal, the spotlight-loving leader will kick things off with a press conference and can be expected to use the platform to rail at all things Brussels – while liberal lawmakers picket the event in protest.
Orbán set the tone with a combative social media post on Sunday, pointing at hard-right electoral gains from Italy to the Netherlands and Austria – and the influence of a Hungarian-led new group in the EU parliament, the Patriots for Europe.
“We should not withdraw from Brussels, but occupy it,” he wrote. “We will take back Brussels from the bureaucrats and return it to the European people!”
French lawmaker Valerie Hayer, and leader of the centrist Renew group, plans to protest outside Orban’s press conference alongside her party colleagues, including Fianna Fáil MEPs.
She called his freelance diplomacy conducted under the EU presidency banner “unacceptable” and said it played into the hands of “autocratic states”.
“Orbán is playing arsonist with the very idea of Europe,” she charged. “He wants to burn down democratic, liberal and tolerant Europe.”
Elsewhere in the EU, the situation does not improve for Orbán as last week the Commission began legal action against Hungary over its so-called ‘foreign influence’ laws that allegedly breach EU rules.
Before Orbán’s press conference, Dutch Green Party MEP and lead negotiator for the Rule of Law in the European Parliament Tineke Strik will a separate news briefing, outlining how no progress has been made to enhance the rule of law in Budapest under Orbán’s leadership in the last year.
Contains reporting from © AFP 2024
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
The European Parliament dislikes independent thought, particularly if it makes any sense.
@Patrick Westman: they will change the rules when it is not suiting their woke agenda. this is Europe for the elite. when common sense prevail, they get very upset. Von Der liar should not even be in place
@Patrick Westman: Independent thought. That’s a new way of describing corruption
https://www.transparency.org/en/cpi/2023
@Dominic Leleu: define for us “woke” – I bet you can’t.
@Faejit Balloobas: ” if you don’t know, you ARE”
@Kevvy kerrr: So you don’t know either.
@Patrick Westman: For those who don’t know Who victor Orbán is
Viktor Orbán’s implemented sweeping changes in Hungary since 2010, eroding democracy and benefiting his billionaire friends. A new constitution and amendments weakened checks and balances, consolidated executive power, and entrenched Orbán’s power. Furthermore, Fidesz (henceforth called Orbán’s Party) updated voting rules so that constitutional changes require >66% of the vote, making it harder for future governments to reverse undemocratic and corrupt changes made by Orbán’s Party.
The government also undermined judicial independence by lowering judges’ retirement age, resulting in the forced retirement of many older judges and their rapid replacement with Orbán party loyalists, who pass laws and make judgments favourable to Orbán’s Party and associated business interests. Orbán also created a centralised office headed by a loyalist who controls judicial appointments and case allocation.
Media control is also a key aspect of Orbán’s domination of Hungary. His allies acquired all major media outlets covering TV, internet and print media, and transformed state media into a government mouthpiece. A new regulatory body, again (there’s a pattern) controlled by Orbán appointees enables tight content control of media output, while independent voices face pressure and media smear campaigns, leading to silencing, sackings and resignations of many independent journalists.
Electoral system reforms also favour Orbán’s Party, including redrawn districts and voting rule changes (first past the post) that provide an unfair advantage. If opposition parties complain about the redrawn districts, bring a court case, they are now heard and dismissed in the Orbán controlled courts.
Orbán’s government has also targeted civil society, implementing sweeping legislation that creates a hostile environment for independent organisations and universities, resulting in the closure of University departments and forces retirement professors. Academic freedom has been curtailed, with the government forcing Central European University to relocate to Vienna, restricting the Hungarian Academy of Sciences’ autonomy, and banning gender studies programs.
These policies have significantly altered Hungary’s political landscape, consolidating Orbán’s Party’s power and eroding democratic freedom. While facing international criticism, Orbán maintains domestic support by positioning himself as a defender of traditional Hungarian and Christian values against globalism and liberalism, a narrative parroted by his state controlled media. The cumulative effect of these changes has been a significant shift away from liberal democracy towards an authoritarian government in Hungary.
So why is he doing this?
Well, Orbán’s friends are powerful businessman who control energy sector, manufacturing and media. They are making money off these changes. For example, his refusal to partake in the EU’s block purchasing of cheap gas but continue importing Russian gas and oil, pushed up energy prices in Hungary that benefited his cronies. His refusal to end his country’s reliance on Russian energy imports and leaves Hungary vulnerable to supply chain interruption, for example Ukraine turned off the gas for a few weeks over Hungary refusing to approve a new round of EU arms transfers to Ukraine. He eventually backtracked, after his buddies made more money from a spike in prices (Poland was even more reliant on Russian energy imports in 2022, it now imports 0% of it energy needs from Russia. It can be done).
References:
Anghel, V. and Jones, E., 2024. What went wrong in Hungary. Journal of Democracy, 35(2), pp.52-64.
Rohac, D., 2023. Transitions, populism, and democratic decline: Evidence from Hungary and the Czech Republic. European Politics and Society, 24(2), pp.169-187.
Cabrera-Cuadrado C, Chrobak J. Illiberalism and the deinstitutionalization of public diplomacy: The rise of Hungary and Viktor Orbán in American conservative media. Communication & Society. 2023 Apr 4:311-24.
@Dominic Leleu: I would also like to hear what exactly is “woke” and why that is bad. We are all ears
@David Jordan: Orban is reputed to have been a bagman for the KGB when he was a young lad, and to have liased with Putin on occasion.
@David Jordan: Due to incessant social media influences, the human brain is now limited to reading no more than four lines of script.
This last line I’m writing now is completely pointless !!!!
@Patrick Westman: Speaking for yourself.
@David Jordan: sounds a lot like the dysfunctional European Parliament and its anti democratic over zealous woke agenda and eroding of sovereignty .undocumented immigrants flooding Europe??? The European Union was supposed to be an economic union not a bunch of unelected beuracrates trying to form a European army in bed with Nato.yes ireland has benefited substantially and is now a contributor but at what cost??? Loss of sovereignty our politicians are under instructions from the EU and don’t have irish peoples interests. Victor Oban is standing up to the EU beurocracy and is trying to create a peaceful resolution with Russia but vested interests in Europe and America the industrial military complex do not want peace at any cost the gravy train must go on at the expense of Ukrainian lives and what of the conflict in the middle East where Netanyahu is spoiling for a war with Iran and trying to draw the western world into regional conflict you couldn’t make this shit up but the facts are for any rational person to see
@ItWasLikeThatWhenIGotHere: any proof of that
@Vincent Hickey: Last year, it was revealed the Victor Orbán covered up a major sex abuse scandal at a State orphanage, that involved several paedophiles and abuse going back many years. He also pardoned Endre Konya, the deputy director at the orphanage, who tried to cover up the abuse by threatening victims and witnesses.
Katalin Novák and other allies of Orbán, including the president and Justice Minister Judit Varga, resigned over their involvement in the cover-up.
Péter Magyar, Judit Varga’s ex-husband, he divorced her last year over her part in the cover-up, revealed the sex abuse scandal.
He also published an audio recording of Orbán associates explaining how they could get the courts (controlled by Orbán’s Party) to dismiss cases involving their corrupt business dealings.
Péter Magyar launched a new political party, here he is along with a large crowed protesting against Orbán’s control of State media, outside the studios of MTVA, 2 days ago:
@Vincent Hickey: Ahh good auld Victor .. just standing up to EU beuracracy.. as he carves up his own country’s wealth and resources and redistributes amongst his buddies . What a guy .What a hero.. and ‘ a peaceful reseloution with Russia ‘ lol.. Don’t be such a plonker Rodney !
@David Jordan: Your description of Orban has a lot of similarities with our politicians. For example who appoints judges in this country, and who provided 750 million of our money to the state broadcaster. Then theres the hate speech bill where 75% of people do not want, although cancelled for now we have been informed this will be on the table again after the election. I could go on but it seems like our leaders have a lot in common with Orban.
@David Jordan: Thank you for the summary.
Can you now please pick the actions/behaviours we have 100% NOT seen in “western” politicians, institutions or governments? Not ever?
@Brian: LISTEN DEL you just keep driving around in circles on them roundabouts in your robin reliant with your imaginary blowup friend in the backseat and ill stick to the facts .ALL RIGHT ME OLD CHINA
If every country in the west had an Orban in power we would be in a much better situation.
@common sense: Cobblers!!!
@Ollie Fitzpatrick: where????… I got a hole in my loafers
@common sense: a russian puppet i all he is ,a mini trump
@common sense: Yeah! Let’s get the autocratic, homophobic racists in everywhere! Good idea, you’re so smart
@common sense: you clearly no nothing about this “delightful” chap who would throw you under the bus if it meant lining his pockets with another ivory back scratcher.
@common sense: Really?
Ursula can’t really complain about Victor now can she
@Padraic O’ Sullivan: For those who don’t know Who victor Orbán is
Viktor Orbán’s implemented sweeping changes in Hungary since 2010, eroding democracy and benefiting his billionaire friends. A new constitution and amendments weakened checks and balances, consolidated executive power, and entrenched Orbán’s power. Furthermore, Fidesz (henceforth called Orbán’s Party) updated voting rules so that constitutional changes require >66% of the vote, making it harder for future governments to reverse undemocratic and corrupt changes made by Orbán’s Party.
The government also undermined judicial independence by lowering judges’ retirement age, resulting in the forced retirement of many older judges and their rapid replacement with Orbán party loyalists, who pass laws and make judgments favourable to Orbán’s Party and associated business interests. Orbán also created a centralised office headed by a loyalist who controls judicial appointments and case allocation.
Media control is also a key aspect of Orbán’s domination of Hungary. His allies acquired all major media outlets covering TV, internet and print media, and transformed state media into a government mouthpiece. A new regulatory body, again (there’s a pattern) controlled by Orbán appointees enables tight content control of media output, while independent voices face pressure and media smear campaigns, leading to silencing, sackings and resignations of many independent journalists.
Electoral system reforms also favour Orbán’s Party, including redrawn districts and voting rule changes (first past the post) that provide an unfair advantage. If opposition parties complain about the redrawn districts, bring a court case, they are now heard and dismissed in the Orbán controlled courts.
Orbán’s government has also targeted civil society, implementing sweeping legislation that creates a hostile environment for independent organisations and universities, resulting in the closure of University departments and forces retirement professors. Academic freedom has been curtailed, with the government forcing Central European University to relocate to Vienna, restricting the Hungarian Academy of Sciences’ autonomy, and banning gender studies programs.
These policies have significantly altered Hungary’s political landscape, consolidating Orbán’s Party’s power and eroding democratic freedom. While facing international criticism, Orbán maintains domestic support by positioning himself as a defender of traditional Hungarian and Christian values against globalism and liberalism, a narrative parroted by his state controlled media. The cumulative effect of these changes has been a significant shift away from liberal democracy towards an authoritarian government in Hungary.
So why is he doing this?
Well, Orbán’s friends are powerful businessman who control energy sector, manufacturing and media. They are making money off these changes. For example, his refusal to partake in the EU’s block purchasing of cheap gas but continue importing Russian gas and oil, pushed up energy prices in Hungary that benefited his cronies. His refusal to end his country’s reliance on Russian energy imports and leaves Hungary vulnerable to supply chain interruption, for example Ukraine turned off the gas for a few weeks over Hungary refusing to approve a new round of EU arms transfers to Ukraine. He eventually backtracked, after his buddies made more money from a spike in prices (Poland was even more reliant on Russian energy imports in 2022, it now imports 0% of it energy needs from Russia. It can be done).
References:
Anghel, V. and Jones, E., 2024. What went wrong in Hungary. Journal of Democracy, 35(2), pp.52-64.
Rohac, D., 2023. Transitions, populism, and democratic decline: Evidence from Hungary and the Czech Republic. European Politics and Society, 24(2), pp.169-187.
Cabrera-Cuadrado C, Chrobak J. Illiberalism and the deinstitutionalization of public diplomacy: The rise of Hungary and Viktor Orbán in American conservative media. Communication & Society. 2023 Apr 4:311-24.
@David Jordan: half truths and propaganda from the war mongers and far left ideologues
Thank you love ❤️ great positive
Journal thinks this is a toxic comment , peace ✌️ love
@David Jordan: In summary, he’s a proper old skool fascist. It’s alarming how many posters aren’t just ok with that, they actually support it.
@Jonny Hellzapoppin: these posters on here that support Orban and his style are part of the easily fooled team. So much so they think they are cutting edge in the brain department. Ignorance is the modern day cool guy where gaslighting will get you everything.
@David Jordan: Such tripe, ask actual Hungarians what they think.
The rule of law only applies to those who will follow it. I am 11 YEARS trying to get my personal information from the so called “liberal” FG ministers of Social Protection. After 11 YEARS I got more information last week, which successive Ministers have hidden all this time.
This information provides further insight as to the reason I was removed from my job. I was the only one who could uncover fraud and money laundering by senior officials.
“You will protect your Minister” translates as “you will never give out information that might compromise corrupt senior civil servants, under any legislation”. This includes, GDPR, FOI, AIE and even High Court Discovery.
Stop calling other countries to account, until you bring your own Government and civil service under the rule of law.
@tommy power: Banna republic of Ireland the most corrupt little country in Europe the last couple of months between children’s hospital and bike sheds security huts and I’d wager that’s only the tip of the iceberg. cronieism cute hoorism brown envelopes galway tent bank bailout. Bank bailout tapes Tribunals RTE scandal ect.ect. AND NOBODY HELD TO ACCOUNT. that says it all. Corrupt enept and blatant what are you going to do about it.
Hilarious to see all the pro Obran comments and thumbs up on here, be all whistling a different tune if they were living under his authoritarian kleptocracy.. think you’d be on the Journal moaning about bike sheds or security huts ?? Lol.
@Brian: Orbán has gutted the Hungarian judiciary and media, and you have these far-right turkey’s cheering on Christmas. You couldn’t make it up.
@Jacintha Dumbrell: speaking of turkeys voting for Christmas, have you heard of the ‘queers for palestine’ movement?
@Brian: Yeah imagine living in a country that has immigration control, wonder what that’s like?
@Brian: Please provide evidence that Hungry is a Kleptocracy.
@Adrian Versey: LOL.. seriously?He has used the power of the state to attack his enemies, to help his friends, and subvert public liberty. He passed complicated regulations which targeted specific business sectors, placing them at a competitive disadvantage against his chosen oligarchs. He weaponised the tax authority, harassing non-Fidesz businesses unable to comply with the ever more Byzantine tax code. He nationalised Hungarian banks and other private businesses, then reprivatised them through non-competitive bidding processes won by his friends.. do you need me to go on.. ? Do feel free however to provide evidence that it is not a Kleptocracy..
@GE Zall: Yeah, cause there’s nothing more to running a country and a functioning democracy than keeping them Johnny foreigners out.. Good lad yourself..
@Brian:
Putin,Orban,Trump,Kim Jong,so many Dicts,around at the moment
@Brian: spot on
@Mary.E.: And so much to admire about these ‘strongmen’ it would seem… More than a touch of deja vu about it all..
@Mary.E.: And we have soft Simon
@Jacintha Dumbrell: Surely thats “Turkiyes voting for Christmas” now with the name change and all that.
An elected leader with a pair putting up to the EU machine with his people and country bests interests at heart… A very rare creature in this day and age
@Quinnladden1: doing the will of Putin. Let’s hope one of the fireworks ends up where we would like to see it go. Wipe the smile off his face.
@Alan: We!?! As in you and your 7 likes..
@Quinnladden1: yeah, right.
Keep fighting these leftie lunatics Victor..
@edwardjp: It seems you dont understand the left ring /right wing concept of politics…..do you?
@Pat Barry: I don’t to explain myself to you.
EU despises the fact that Obán is putting his country first and won’t follow the rules like sheep Same as the Polish Foreign Affairs minister Radosław Sikorski Oh boy does he give them some jib Good on them!
@Paddy: Only you would be crying like a little girl if we had a government who attempted half of the undemocratic changes he has forced in.
@T S: Hahahaha
This gut is a hard one, he tolerates no immigration but not punished by the EU. Why is this?
@jak: he is strong but a tyrant nonetheless. Putin in the making and one of his cronies.
@jak: define woke
The EU is by far been a very positive thing for Ireland , it obviously has flaws the biggest one off the lot being, we can’t chuck other members out no matter how much the break the laws
@Robert Halvey: the EU is a failure.
@Robert Halvey: the biggest flaw is the euro currency.
@Niall English: how many multinational companies do think would be left in ireland iff we left the eu,
@Robert Halvey: EU expansion has brought with it an opportunity to modify EU treaties.
The accession of Ukraine and Moldova will present an opportunity to create a mechanism to expel those who would be more comfortable living in Orkland.
@Robert Halvey: doubt any would leave. they are here primarily because of our status as a tax haven and our generous tax taxation policies towards intellectual property and R&D investment, that coupled with our double taxation treaty with the US make it a very attractive location for US multinationals to domicile some operations. a change to our current taxation policies would be far more detrimental to FDI than ever leaving the EU would. the EU was good when it was just a common trade area, but the single currency is a failure and i would be surprised if its still in existence in its current form in 10 years.
@Niall English: They are here also because of our fantastic education system and infrastructure. Without the EU we would have none of that.
@T S: fantastic education system? we have one university in the global top 200. in the PISA 2022 report, our 15 year old students performed worse than their counterparts in Estonia in maths, reading and sciences (the 3 subjects tested). doubt estonia is a global powerhouse in terms of education.
I don’t know why people take so much attention to the leader of a country that has made poor choices time after time. Yes, he’s right this one time about migration, but his policies and Hungary in general is quite poor, they got out of an empire and went to be communist, living in misery, then after ditching communism, other former communist like the Czech Republic are doing much better than Hungary. People barely make it month to month, and Hungary’s living standards haven’t risen since Orban is in power. So why are we listening to the unsuccessful member?
@J Ven: because of a voting system that calls for all member states to agree. He uses his veto to back Putin who then rewards him. If you’ve ever been to Hungary life for ordinary people there is grim. Even worse if you disagree in any way with Orban policies.
Hungary should be suspended from all EU decision making. Whatever Orbans vision of the EU is, I want no part of it.
Orban is a leader who puts his country and his people first. The pigs we have as leaders in Ireland put everybody except their own citizens first. We need the likes of Orban here to put manners on our weasel government as well as their EU masters.
@Gerry Lamont: How to tell the Journal readership that you know nothing about Hungary without telling the journal readership that you know nothing about Hungary.
@Gerry Lamont: When did you first come to terms with being a dope?
Orban is another of these emerging dictators who plunder state resources and hold on to power by whatever means necessary. If Hungary’s programme for European meetings for the next six months is in any way an attempt to destabilise Europe ,the presidency should be moved elsewhere. All that said, there are too many faceless and unaccountable bureaucrats running Europe and this has to change if Europe wants to continue to claim to be a democracy.
Free world meloni. Or ban. Vox. Bukele. Milei. European union globalist agenda
Google Victor Orbán and World Economic Forum, he’s a regular attendee.
@Jacintha Dumbrell: Great job Jessica Fletcher, he may attend but is he dancing to their tune? Are you ok with the massive asylum compounds popping up around the country? 30000 in hotels currently.. we are going to be the largest asylum center in Europe, why? Because of the weak mealy mouthed lefty leaders in our corrupt country. You will change your tune, I’ve never met an intelligent Jacintha btw
@Freda Peeple: you are absolutely correct McEntee is clueless when questioned by minister McNamara about uncontrolled immigration into ireland she couldn’t even tell if the ones without passports would be expelled she gave an amnesty to 174 thousand immigrants no background checks nothing she sat there gomeless and looked absolutely incompetent and out of her depth. HOW DID SHE GET THAT JOB??? I have major concerns as to the competency of this government they are going to lead us into the abyss lead by McEntee the albatross
@Vincent Hickey: She has a good set of knee pads is how.
Is that for Halloween?
How to tell if everyone on this comment section is clueless!well just read every comment!more brains in a can of beans!!
have your say