Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s presentation of his priorities for Hungary’s EU presidency has divided the European Parliament between fans and opponents of his policy.
There was a clear divide in MPs’ reaction at the end of the debate: approving applause from one side of the chamber, loud boos from the other. one of the political groups Many critics of Hungarian politics European People’s Party (PPEViktor Orbán’s Fidesz party was part of this party until March 2021.
“Corruption Killing the future of Hungary. EPP leader Manfred Weber said in his speech: “You, Mr. Orbán, represent the past.” Peter Magyar, leader of Hungary’s main opposition party Tisza, was also harsh on Orbán in an interview with ‘Euronews’.
Accusations from the left…
A lot left-wing MPs They challenged Orbán outside the hall, some even boycotting his opening speech and attending only for the debate. In his speech in parliament, many people described the Hungarian leader as an “autocrat”. German Greens/ALEDaniel Freund, He called him a ‘dictator’.
“Orbán Hungary The most corrupt country in the European Union (The EU) today sits at the bottom of many rankings in terms of democracy, the rule of law and respect for civil liberties.” Foreign policy of the Hungarian Prime Minister, who represented the Union for six months as rotating president of the EU Council.
“We’ve already seen Orbán visit Putin, Xi and Donald Trump. And I’m afraid we haven’t seen them all yet. Some Highly uncertain elections “So what happens if Orbán tries to intervene on behalf of the EU?”
The French member of the group is renew EuropeFabienne Keller attacked the migration policy advocated by the Hungarian Prime Minister, calling for greater border control and the implementation of hotspots outside the territory of the community. verifying immigrants’ asylum rights Before allowing them to enter the EU.
“Europe’s solution will be the implementation of the Pact on Migration and Asylum, which Hungary voted against. Orbán proposes unsustainable solutions“But I must also acknowledge that far-right ideas are spreading in Europe.”
…and the admiration of the far right
This was exactly his approach. immigration problemThe Hungarian prime minister has not only his own political group, Patriots for Europe, but also two more far-right groupsEuropean Conservatives and Reformists and the Europe of Sovereign Nations.
“It was a very specific conversation and focused on emergencies “The issues that a presidency must address: energy costs, competitiveness of European companies, protection of borders,” Northern League MP Paolo Borchia told Euronews. Spanish Jorge Buxadé Villalba from Vox described Orbán’s speech as follows: “breath of fresh air” and criticized the remaining leaders of EU countries and institutions.
from the conservative group There were many signs of appreciationBut there is also a certain distance on one of the most controversial issues: the war in Ukraine. orban He didn’t mention this in his opening statement.But at a press conference on the eve of his intervention, he had already announced his goal: the establishment of a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia through dialogue with Moscow.
An attitude that does not sit well with Nicola Procaccini, co-chairman of the European Conservatives and Reformists: “The EU’s internal enemies as well as external enemy very dangerous: alliance between Russia, China, Iran and North Korea“.
