Budapest – Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has asserted that the European Union, rather than Russia, poses the greatest threat to Hungary, as his nationalist party intensifies its anti-EU campaign ahead of national elections in April. The claim, made during a speech to supporters on , marks a significant escalation in rhetoric as Orbán’s Fidesz party faces its most serious electoral challenge since coming to power in 2010.
With just eight weeks remaining until the vote, Orbán and Fidesz are contending with polling data that shows them trailing the center-right Tisza party and its leader, Péter Magyar. Orbán has repeatedly campaigned on the unsubstantiated claim that the EU would send Hungarians to their deaths in neighboring Ukraine should his party lose the upcoming election.
In his address, Orbán drew a parallel between the EU and the repressive Soviet regime that dominated Hungary for over four decades during the 20th century. He simultaneously dismissed the widely held belief among European leaders that Russian President Vladimir Putin represents a threat to continental security. “We must get used to the idea that those who love freedom should not fear the East, but Brussels,” he stated, referring to the de facto capital of the EU in Belgium.
“Fear-mongering about Putin is primitive and unserious. Brussels, however, is a palpable reality and a source of imminent danger,” Orbán continued. “This represents the bitter truth, and we will not tolerate it.”
Orbán has long been a vocal critic of military and financial aid to Ukraine following Russia’s large-scale invasion nearly four years ago, maintaining close ties with Moscow while adopting a confrontational stance towards Hungary’s EU and NATO partners, whom he portrays as hawkish. In , as Russian troops crossed the border into Ukraine, Orbán stated that it was “not clear who attacked whom.”
The Hungarian government has been in protracted disagreement with the EU, which has frozen billions of euros in funding to Budapest due to concerns that Orbán has eroded democratic institutions, undermined judicial independence, and overseen widespread corruption among public officials. In response, Orbán has increasingly acted as a disruptive force within EU decision-making, threatening to veto key policies, including financial support for Ukraine.
As the election nears, Orbán has increasingly characterized the Tisza party as a puppet of the EU, designed to overthrow his government and serve foreign interests – allegations vehemently denied by the opposition party. Péter Magyar, the leader of the Tisza party, has pledged to repair Hungary’s strained relationships with Western allies, revitalize the stagnant economy, and steer the country towards a more democratic path.
Orbán also accused multinational corporations, including banks and energy companies, of profiting from the war in Ukraine and conspiring with his political opposition to defeat him in the elections. “It is crystal clear that in Hungary, the oil sector, the banking world, and the Brussels elite are preparing to form a government,” he said. “They need someone in Hungary who never says no to the demands of Brussels.”
Should his party secure a fifth consecutive majority in the elections, Orbán vowed to continue his efforts to liberate Hungary from entities he claims infringe upon the country’s sovereignty. He credited former U.S. President Donald Trump, who previously endorsed him, with creating an environment where “false non-governmental organizations and journalists, judges and bought and paid politicians” can be expelled.
“The new president of the United States revolted against the global network of business, media and political liberals, thus improving our chances,” Orbán said.
The escalating rhetoric comes as Hungary faces increasing scrutiny over its democratic backsliding and its alignment with Russia amidst the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The outcome of the April elections will likely have significant implications for Hungary’s future relationship with both the EU and Russia, as well as its role within the broader European security architecture.
