Latest news with #Orbán
Channel 4
a day ago
- Business
- Channel 4
Orbán: Is MAGA hero and EU's longest serving leader in trouble?
'We will open several bottles of champagne if Trump is back,' said Hungary's prime minister, Viktor Orbán , last October. As the pro- Trump American conservative gathering CPAC starts in Budapest this week, there will be plenty of corks popping. Orbán is a hero for the populist right and the MAGA faithful. For them, his 15 years in power are a playbook for what America could and should be by the end of Trump's second term. Yet are the good times coming to an end for Orbán? Economically and politically, the EU's longest serving leader looks to be on the ropes. Hungary's economy hardly grew last year and it is not looking much better this year. Inflation is above four percent, higher than the EU average. Orbán is trailing his rival ahead of elections due next year. 'He's down in the polls, the economy is not so great, and he might take desperate steps to remain in power,' says Tamás Bodoky, the editor-in-chief of Átlátszó, an independent media group. Those 'desperate steps' are clear. On 15 March, Orbán delivered a stinging speech against his opponents, calling them 'stink bugs' and saying Hungary needed a spring clean. He said: 'We are dismantling the financial machine that has used corrupt dollars to buy politicians, judges, journalists, bogus civil society organisations and political activists. We will disperse the entire shadow army.' Since then, Orbán has banned Pride in Budapest and also introduced a new transparency law that would allow the government to blacklist organisations that receive foreign funding, deeming them a 'threat' to national sovereignty. The European Union has condemned both policies, with Michael McGrath, the EU Commissioner for Democracy, Justice and Rule of Law, saying: 'The commission is unwavering in its commitment to uphold democracy and the rule of law across the EU. We will act decisively and without hesitation whenever necessary to protect these fundamental principles.' 'The public debate is very polarised all over the world. This is what happened in America last year during the elections. The public debate is polarised in England too. Politics is polarised everywhere.' – János Lázár I head to an outside town hall led by government minister, János Lázár. It's quite the scene. While many are cheering him on, there are plenty of heckles, angry questions, and a troublemaker playing the trumpet right in the face of the minister. For Orbán's supporters, this is their response to accusations that the government has rolled back democratic rights. 'This is the living proof that in the heart of Hungary there is democracy indeed,' says one woman. 'It's a little bit difficult today,' says Lázár as he finally talks to me after taking questions for three hours. I put to him that some of that anger from the people comes from his boss, Mr Orbán, calling his opponents 'stink bugs'. 'The public debate is very polarised all over the world. This is what happened in America last year during the elections. The public debate is polarised in England too. Politics is polarised everywhere.' He does admit some blame. 'The government has a serious responsibility when it comes to how the public feels. But there will be a very strong election campaign and very strong speeches in Hungary for the next ten months.' Many groups across the country now fear for their future because of the potential transparency law. Átlátszó is one of the few independent media organisations in a country where, since 2010, Orbán has successfully consolidated power, packing the courts with loyalists and taking control of much of the media market. Bodoky says Átlátszó is being targeted because they have exposed government corruption. 'He's constantly fighting a war against real or imaginary enemies, but what is really new is that he wants to crack down on Hungarian citizens based on perceived non-patriotism or treachery.' I ask him what the transparency law would mean for Átlátszó? 'It would mean, most probably, that we go out of business.' The proposed law is not just a threat to journalists. I travel outside Budapest to Debrecen, Hungary's second largest city and a conservative bastion. But right in the centre is a liberal island; a community space run by Ágnes Molnár . Here, there's a bar, offices, a bicycle repair shop, and when I visit, a group of women cooking outside. They're preparing meals to hand out to those in need in the city. They say that in the last few years, more and more people are queuing up for their services. And yet, they all still worship Orbán. Who do they blame for the fact they are in need? A woman lists them off: 'They blame the Ukraine war, gay people, migrants, and Brussels'. It's clear that Hungarians are bombarded with a certain message. Across the country, on billboards and bus stops, there are countless posters displaying the images of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy , EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen , and Manfred Weber, the head of the European People's Party in the EU Parliament. The words read: 'Let's not allow them to decide above our heads'. Hungarians are being asked to vote in a referendum on whether they want Ukraine to join the EU. Brussels is seen as trouble by Orbán. Molnár's community hub receives some money from the EU and that makes them a target. 'We are definitely on the list,' she says when referring to who the government might come after if the transparency law passes. 'Of course, we won't give up. We want to save this space.' 'He's constantly fighting a war against real or imaginary enemies, but what is really new is that he wants to crack down on Hungarian citizens based on perceived non-patriotism or treachery.' – Tamás Bodoky At the bar, I sat down with Boglárka 'Bogi' Fábián. She lives here in Debrecen, but regularly attends weekly demonstrations in the capital, Budapest, against the Pride ban. 'It's definitely less safe, as a lesbian,' she tells me. 'I keep it on the downlow. There is a saying there is no rest for the wicked. There is no rest for the gays, but we are definitely not wicked.' The LGBTQ community has constantly been attacked by the Fidesz government for years, slowly chipping away at their rights. Bogi uses the boiling frog analogy. 'When you cook a frog, you start warming the frog up, slowly,' Bogi says. 'Right now, it's boiling, it's boiling hot.' That steady approach by Orbán, where he has consolidated power over the past 15 years, has been commented on before. In their book 'How Democracies Die', Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt talk about how 'the erosion of democracy takes place piecemeal, often in baby steps. Each individual step seems minor – none appears to truly threaten democracy… Many of them are adopted under the guise of pursuing some legitimate – even laudable – public objective, such as combating corruption, 'cleaning up' elections, improving the quality of democracy, or enhancing national security.' Many see parallels between what Orbán has done and what Trump is trying to do in the United States. But if the Democrats across the Atlantic are struggling for a leader, there is a clear opposition figure here in Hungary. Péter Magyar, once a member of Orbán's Fidesz party, is an MEP and the leader of the centre-right Tisza party and is ahead by 43 percent to 36 percent among decided voters, according to a poll by the Publicus think tank. 'They (the people) are completely fed up with the lies, with the propaganda, with the corruption.' – Péter Magyar He's recently been marching across the country meeting voters, a clever way to reach out to people given the media landscape is so dominated by Orbán. As he treks across the vast, flat fields of Hungary, people join from all over, getting out of their cars and following him on his walk. I ask one woman whether she thinks Magyar can win. 'Of course, that's why I am here. He must, because if not, Hungary is over.' 'It's over,' I ask? 'It's totally over, yes. All of my children want to go out of the country and I don't want this.' When I finally make it to Magyar, the rain starts pouring down but he remains undeterred. 'They (the people) are completely fed up with the lies, with the propaganda, with the corruption,' he says. But when I ask him whether he'll roll back all the laws and changes under Orbán, he says that he will keep some of the good decisions, such as 'the family policy, the tax policy, the fence at the southern border of Hungary against illegal migration'. That sounds like he's not exactly the liberal change many in the country want, I ask. 'I think it's not important my personal stance. I don't care about ideologies. We don't have time.' The Fidesz party knows the next parliamentary vote will be a tough one. Will Orbán's recent policy moves ensure victory – or simply backfire? Populists across Europe and beyond will be watching. Watch more here: 'Vance is the future of MAGA', says close friend EU chief launches unprecedented public attack on Viktor Orban – yet they still need each other US Republicans and Hungary's Orban 'obstacles' to Ukraine fight with Russia
Budapest Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Budapest Times
Orbán: The patriot plan is the only alternative to the European nightmare
Speaking before hundreds of international guests, including current and former heads of state and government, party leaders, and prominent conservative voices, Prime Minister Orbán positioned the event as a defining moment for Europe's right-wing resurgence. 'This is not a gathering of the defeated, but of those who have endured,' declared Prime Minister Orbán, paying tribute to leaders who, like him, have weathered relentless political attacks. He criticized liberal and progressive European politicians for their fragility in the face of scrutiny, stating, 'They cry at the first sign of criticism and hide behind progressive journalists.' The prime minister presented a stark contrast between two competing visions for Europe's future. According to him, the liberal plan envisions a post-Christian, post-national continent consumed by war, migration, and centralized debt. 'Brussels has stolen the European dream,' he warned, describing today's EU as a place where citizens fear for their safety and economic viability, and where 'organized population replacement' has taken the place of integration. In opposition, Prime Minister Orbán's patriot plan outlines four key pillars: Peace: 'We do not want the eastern front,' he said, firmly rejecting Ukraine's EU membership and war-driven policies. Sovereignty: Hungary opposes shared EU debts and taxes, and the funding of foreign wars with national resources. Freedom: Political freedom and freedom of expression must be restored to the European public. Security: Europe must be reclaimed from mass migration, and citizens must retake their urban neighborhoods. Prime Minister Orbán emphasized the necessity of local victories to achieve these aims: 'Everyone must return home and win their own battles.' He pointed to the upcoming elections in Poland as the next opportunity for the patriot alliance to gain ground. In a broader context, he celebrated Donald Trump's return to the U.S. presidency, calling it 'the greatest comeback in the history of the Western world.' Trump's early actions, including targeting the deep state and dismantling progressive ideologies, were described by the Hungarian leader as a 'truth serum' that has rekindled hope for peace and stability. The prime minister's address also saluted international allies like Andrej Babiš, Robert Fico, Santiago Abascal, and Alice Weidel—leaders who, according to him, exemplify the courage to resist the liberal consensus. Special recognition went to Robert Fico, whom he described as a leader who 'was shot five times and still returned as if nothing had happened.' Highlighting the ideological divide, Prime Minister Orbán lambasted Brussels' leftist elite for silencing dissent and orchestrating violent efforts to disrupt conservative events. 'This cannot continue,' he said. He accused EU liberals of attempting to replace national identity with an artificial construct, adding, 'The left does not want debate—they want submission.' 'The liberal plan leads to a centralized, indebted, war-driven Europe,' Prime Minister Orbán concluded. 'But Hungarians are a free people—we were born to follow our own path.' The message was unequivocal: The time has come for patriots across the continent to reclaim Europe.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Hungary's Orbán says Trump offers 'hope' at right-wing conference
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán described US President Donald Trump's presidency as a "true civilizational turning point" at an international conference of right-wing populists and Russia supporters on Thursday. "We will not drown in a sea of 'wokeness,' migrants will not overrun us, Donald Trump has given [the world] back hope for a normal life and for peace," Orbán said in his opening speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Budapest. Trump sent a welcome video to the event, recorded in the Oval Office. In it, he praised Orbán as "a great man who is highly respected by everybody." "He has done a brilliant job of leading, and he is a very special person," Trump added. Other speakers at the two-day conference include the leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany, Alice Weidel, the head of the far-right Freedom Party of Austria, Herbert Kickl, Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico and Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobachidze. Orbán has been ruling Hungary with increasingly authoritarian methods since 2010. He has repeatedly advocated watering down EU sanctions on Moscow and has obstructed the bloc's support of Ukraine in its defence against Russia's full-scale invasion.e
Budapest Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Budapest Times
Orbán urges public to beware of scams linked to Ukraine
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has urged the public to beware of 'a noticeable rise' in banking scams and hacking, including cyber fraud linked to Ukraine. In a video posted on Facebook on Tuesday, PM Orbán said his cabinet was busy preparing for tomorrow's meeting which will cover economic issues such as the mandatory cap on markups, the Demjan Sandor scheme for scaling up local SMEs as well as 'a very harmful phenomenon'. PM Orbán warned of a recent 'noticeable rise' in banking scams and hacking cases, 'particularly Ukrainian-linked cyber fraud'. 'One wrong click and there go the family's savings,' the prime minister said, noting that scammers defraud Hungarian families of 8 billion forints (EUR 19.8m) each year. He said the authorities had recently shut down a 19-member network linked to Ukrainian organised crime, adding he believed that investigators will have to step up such operations. The cabinet on Wednesday will decide on new ways to combat banking scams linked to Ukrainian crime rings, PM Orbán said.
The Guardian
3 days ago
- General
- The Guardian
The Guardian view on Hungary's anti-LGBTQ+ laws: Europe must stand up for its values
According to article 2 of the treaty of the European Union, the EU is founded on respect for human dignity in societies where 'pluralism, non-discrimination [and] tolerance prevail'. Try telling that to the organisers of next month's Budapest Pride march. Following new laws introduced by Viktor Orbán's Fidesz government, Hungary has become the first EU country to legislate to enable the banning of a Pride event. An amendment to the country's constitution now allows public LGBTQ+ events to be designated a threat to children, expanding the scope of earlier laws targeted at schools. As a result, organisers and participants in Budapest's Pride celebration on 28 June risk being fined and harassed if they turn up to the parade. Unsurprisingly, and accurately, Mr Orbán's ban has been described as a 'full-frontal attack' on LGBTQ+ people. It is also a typically machiavellian manoeuvre by Hungary's prime minister, intended to provoke a backlash from liberals at home and abroad. As Fidesz trails in the polls ahead of elections next year, Mr Orbán is turning to his polarising playbook once again. The fact that Mr Orbán may be hoping for a reaction does not mean there should not be one. The banning of a Pride parade in a European capital would be in flagrant contravention of EU law regarding freedom of assembly and freedom of expression. A delegation of EU lawmakers who visited Hungary last month reported that the new law had already created a 'very hostile atmosphere' for LGBTQ+ Hungarians and led to a rise in violent attacks. In Brussels, demands for a showdown with Mr Orbán were already growing, partly as a result of his pro-Putin obstructionism throughout the war in Ukraine. Hungary is currently denied access to €18bn in EU funds, due to rule-of-law concerns relating to issues such as the treatment of asylum seekers and corruption. But its rogue prime minister has largely led the European Commission a merry dance and shown contempt for its strictures. This week 20 member states, including France and Germany, published a declaration demanding that all possible sanctions should be deployed if the new anti-LGBTQ+ legislation is not withdrawn. Unanimity rules mean they would be unlikely to include the suspension of Hungary's rights as a voting member of the European Council – a move that would be vetoed by Slovakia's national populist government. But at the very minimum, the council should move swiftly to identify Mr Orbán's government as clearly in breach of EU values and act to substantially close off its access to Brussels' funds. The first Budapest Pride parade took place in 1997. Writing in the Guardian last month, an opposition MP described the event as 'the largest recurring demonstration of human rights in Hungary'. According to polls, 78% of the city's residents wish it to go ahead as normal. At a time when the EU's liberal norms are being challenged by the rise of authoritarianism and intolerance in the west and beyond, its leaders must respond robustly to Mr Orbán's latest shameless attempt to undermine them for his own political ends. Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here.
