Hungary’s Ex-PM Returns to Brussels Bereft of Former Power But Backed by Far-Right Alliance
World
Viktor Orbán’s resounding defeat in the April elections did not merely strip him of the premiership; it triggered a swift dismantling of the power vertical he spent years constructing. As Hungary’s new government radically realigns its foreign policy—renouncing the long-standing practice of vetoes and successfully reclaiming billions in frozen EU funds—the defeated ex-Prime Minister is breaking his public silence. He is preparing to visit Brussels to attempt a comeback among the European far-right elites.
Former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán will return to Brussels next week for the first time since his defeat in April's parliamentary elections. The purpose of his visit is to attend a meeting of the leaders of the far-right alliance "Patriots for Europe," a movement in whose creation he played a pivotal role and which currently stands as the third-largest political group in the European Parliament. On June 17, Orbán will join former Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš at the Patriots' traditional meeting ahead of the European Council summit, and he is also scheduled to hold a major press conference in Brussels.
The EU summit, scheduled for June 18–19, will be historic: for the first time in nearly two decades, Hungary will be represented not by Orbán, but by the new Prime Minister, Péter Magyar. The landslide victory of Magyar's "Tisza" party in April put an end to Orbán's 16-year consecutive rule. Magyar has already begun fulfilling campaign promises to combat corruption, dismantle the old political structure, and restore ties with Brussels. The new administration has already successfully negotiated the unfreezing of €16.4 billion of the €17 billion previously blocked from EU funds, and has abandoned Orbán's veto policy, opening the path for Ukraine to begin EU accession talks following a bilateral agreement regarding the rights of the Hungarian minority.
Following his electoral fiasco, Orbán largely vanished from the public eye and declined to take his seat in the national parliament, though he retained his post as chairman of the Fidesz party. Internal criticism against the former prime minister is currently mounting within the party itself. Fidesz members are openly questioning his leadership abilities and criticizing a failed campaign that focused excessively on the war in Ukraine, blocking aid to Kyiv, and maintaining close ties with the Kremlin. Nevertheless, Orbán has vowed to reform and renew the party over the coming year.
The EU summit, scheduled for June 18–19, will be historic: for the first time in nearly two decades, Hungary will be represented not by Orbán, but by the new Prime Minister, Péter Magyar. The landslide victory of Magyar's "Tisza" party in April put an end to Orbán's 16-year consecutive rule. Magyar has already begun fulfilling campaign promises to combat corruption, dismantle the old political structure, and restore ties with Brussels. The new administration has already successfully negotiated the unfreezing of €16.4 billion of the €17 billion previously blocked from EU funds, and has abandoned Orbán's veto policy, opening the path for Ukraine to begin EU accession talks following a bilateral agreement regarding the rights of the Hungarian minority.
Following his electoral fiasco, Orbán largely vanished from the public eye and declined to take his seat in the national parliament, though he retained his post as chairman of the Fidesz party. Internal criticism against the former prime minister is currently mounting within the party itself. Fidesz members are openly questioning his leadership abilities and criticizing a failed campaign that focused excessively on the war in Ukraine, blocking aid to Kyiv, and maintaining close ties with the Kremlin. Nevertheless, Orbán has vowed to reform and renew the party over the coming year.
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