Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has declared the European Union a greater threat to his country than Vladimir Putin's Russia, as his nationalist Fidesz party prepares for upcoming elections. In a speech delivered on Saturday, Orban likened the EU to the repressive Soviet regime that controlled Hungary until 1989, urging his supporters to redirect their fears from Moscow to Brussels.
Orban, who has held power for 16 years and reshaped the central European nation into what he calls an "illiberal democracy," dismissed widespread concerns across Europe about Putin's authoritarian regime. "We must get used to the idea that those who love freedom should not fear the East, but Brussels," he told the crowd. He further criticized continental leaders for what he described as exaggerated worries, stating, "Fear-mongering about Putin is primitive and unserious. Brussels, however, is a palpable reality and a source of imminent danger."
The prime minister's sharp rhetoric comes amid mounting political pressure at home. His ruling Fidesz party is trailing significantly in recent polls, lagging 8 to 12 percentage points behind the opposition Tisza party as Hungary's April elections approach—just eight weeks away.
Orban's longstanding tensions with the EU have been a hallmark of his tenure, often clashing with Brussels over issues like rule of law and democratic standards. By equating the bloc with Hungary's communist past, he positions himself as a defender against external overreach, a narrative that has defined his populist appeal.
Supporters gathered for the Saturday address appeared energized by Orban's words, which frame the EU not as a partner but as an existential risk. This message is particularly timely as Fidesz seeks to rally its base ahead of the spring vote, where maintaining its supermajority in parliament will be crucial.
With the opposition gaining ground, Orban's strategy appears to pivot toward nationalism and skepticism of supranational institutions, contrasting sharply with the pro-EU stance of rivals like Tisza. The elections in April will test whether Hungarian voters share his view of Brussels as the primary adversary.
