BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) 鈥� The real threat facing Hungary is not Russia but the European Union, Prime Minister said in a speech to supporters on Saturday, as his nationalist party ramps up an anti-EU campaign ahead of national elections.
With only eight weeks until the April 12 vote, Orb谩n and his Fidesz party are facing their most serious challenge since the right-wing populist leader retook power in 2010.
Most independent polls show Fidesz trailing the center-right , even as Orb谩n has that the EU would send Hungarians to their deaths in neighboring Ukraine if his party loses.
In his speech on Saturday, Orb谩n compared the EU to the repressive Soviet regime that dominated Hungary for over 40 years last century, and dismissed the belief of many European leaders that Russian President poses a threat to the continent鈥檚 security.
鈥淲e must get used to the idea that those who love freedom should not fear the East, but Brussels,鈥� he said, referring to the EU鈥檚 de-facto capital in Belgium.
鈥淔ear-mongering about Putin is primitive and unserious. Brussels, however, is a palpable reality and a source of imminent danger,鈥� he said 鈥淭his is the bitter truth, and we will not tolerate it.鈥�
Orb谩n has been a for Kyiv since Russia launched its nearly four years ago, and has maintained close relations with Moscow while adopting a combative posture toward Hungary’s EU and NATO partners, which he portrays as warmongers.
In December, he said it was 鈥渦nclear who attacked whom鈥� when tens of thousands of Russian forces poured across Ukraine’s borders in February 2022.
Hungary’s government has long been at odds with the EU, which has in funding to Budapest over concerns that Orb谩n has dismantled democratic institutions, eroded judicial independence and overseen widespread official corruption. In return, Orb谩n has increasingly acted as a spoiler in EU decision making, routinely threatening to veto key policies like providing financial support for Ukraine.
As the elections approach, he has increasingly portrayed the Tisza party as a puppet created by the EU to overthrow his government and serve foreign interests, claims that Tisza has firmly denied. Magyar, the party’s leader, has with its Western allies, revive the stagnant economy and return the country to a more democratic track.
Orb谩n’s praise for Trump
On Saturday, Orb谩n accused multinational corporations like banks and energy companies of profiting off the war in Ukraine, and conspiring with his political opposition to defeat him in the election.
鈥淚t is crystal clear that in Hungary the oil business, the banking world and the Brussels elite are preparing to form a government,” he said. 鈥淭hey need someone in Hungary who will never say no to Brussels鈥� demands.”
If his party wins a fifth-straight majority in the election, Orb谩n promised to push ahead with ridding Hungary of entities that he argues infringe on the country’s sovereignty.
He credited U.S. President Donald Trump, who has endorsed him ahead of the election, with creating an environment where 鈥渇ake nongovernmental organizations and bought-and-paid-for journalists, judges and politicians鈥� can be expelled.
鈥淭he new president of the United States has rebelled against the global business, media and political network of liberals, thus improving our chances,” he said. “We, too, can go a long way and expel foreign influence from Hungary, along with its agents, that limit our sovereignty.鈥�
鈥淭he Brussels repressive machine is still operating in Hungary. We鈥檒l clean it up after April,鈥� he said.
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