In Budapest, Hungary, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán made a speech on Saturday vowing to remove individuals he believes are working for foreign interests. He stated that his right-wing government would eliminate what he referred to as a global “shadow army” serving the European Union and a “liberal American empire.” Orbán, in a speech filled with conspiracy theories, likened media outlets and organizations receiving foreign funding to insects that need to be uprooted. He promised to dismantle these entities that he claims have used corrupt funds to influence politics, the judiciary, media, and activism in Hungary.
Orbán, who has been in power since 2010, has increasingly used the March 15 national holiday as a platform to criticize the EU and launch harsh attacks on perceived critics. He has drawn parallels between the EU and the Soviet Union, which occupied Hungary in the past, and has pledged to defy the EU’s influence. Orbán, a supporter of former U.S. President Donald Trump, has intensified efforts to silence dissent by targeting media, civil rights groups, and anti-corruption organizations that he alleges are backed by international donors seeking to undermine Hungary’s sovereignty.
Recently, Orbán’s party proposed constitutional amendments that could result in the suspension of citizenship and deportation of dual citizens threatening Hungary’s sovereignty. Additionally, there are indications that the LGBTQ+ community could face restrictions, with plans to ban the annual Budapest Pride event in public spaces. Orbán, a vocal opponent of immigration, also promoted the controversial “great replacement theory” asserting that there is a deliberate effort to reduce the influence of white populations globally.
Orbán accused “the empire” of using economic and military support in Ukraine to further its own interests, viewing it as a form of colonization. He called for a halt to Ukraine’s EU accession process and announced plans for a public poll in Hungary on the matter. Furthermore, he suggested that the ongoing conflict in Ukraine is a result of European powers pushing for war in the region.
Later in the day, a demonstration by Hungary’s Tisza party was scheduled to take place in Budapest.
Surrounding its leader and potential challenger to Orbán, Péter Magyar lies a former Fidesz insider who has parted ways with Orbán. Over the past year, Magyar has established an opposition movement with the goal of unseating the Hungarian leader in the upcoming national elections. He has placed emphasis on addressing Hungary’s cost-of-living challenges and exposing what he describes as entrenched corruption within the ruling party. Recent polls indicate that Tisza is running closely with or even slightly ahead of Fidesz, with roughly a year remaining until the elections.
