Information
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban addressed the European Parliament amid protests over his leadership style and close ties with Russia, as part of Hungary’s rotating presidency of the European Council. In his speech, Orban called for the European Union to reform, describing the current geopolitical climate as the most challenging in the bloc’s history. He warned that the ongoing Middle Eastern conflict could trigger a migration crisis severe enough to dismantle the Schengen Area’s open-border system. Orban advocated for migration summits to address these challenges, positioning Hungary’s presidency as a catalyst for change. While his remarks were met with quiet attention, tensions rose as members of the parliament expressed opposition, culminating in a rendition of the antifascist song “Bella Ciao.”
EU leaders, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, sharply criticized Orban, questioning his commitment to EU principles on migration and human rights. Von der Leyen highlighted Hungary’s recent amnesty for over 1,000 human traffickers as undermining efforts to control illegal migration. Other members, like Terry Reintke of the Green bloc, denounced Orban’s presence, asserting his values contradict those of European democracy. Manfred Weber of the European People’s Party criticized Orban for neglecting Ukraine’s struggle against Russia and accused him of using a recent trip to Moscow for propaganda rather than peace efforts. Despite criticism, Orban pointed to the growing popularity of right-wing movements in Europe as support for his views, underscoring the ideological divisions within the EU.
Source: AFP, DPA
So what
Interestingly, one of Orban’s key opponents in Hungarian politics was finally able to question Orban during this session, something that hasn’t happened in over ten years. While some of his policies around migration are seen as a success by some, Hungary’s low wages and high taxes are clear signs of his government’s failings.
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