Orban was invited to present the priorities to the Hungarian presidency of the EU this six months.
But many took the opportunity to scold Orban, including for his support for Russia and anti-democratic policies.
The EU chief received applause
Among those who went to court with Orban was European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Among other things, she brought up that Orban has in many ways sided with Russia in the Ukraine conflict. Hungary has tried a number of times to block EU aid to Ukraine.
– There are still those who believe that this war is not due to Putin’s greed for power, but to Ukraine’s thirst for freedom. So I want to ask them, do they also want to blame the Hungarians for the Soviet invasion in 1956, said von der Leyen acidly – to applause from the audience.
The EU chief also wondered why Hungary, which is adamantly opposed to the EU’s asylum pact and has closed its borders to migrants, recently released over 1,000 convicted human traffickers from prison.
– This is not to fight illegal immigration in Europe. This is throwing the problems over the fence to the neighbour, she stated.
Rushing towards “peace journey”
The leader of the largest party group in the parliament, Max Weber of the right-liberal EPP, in turn criticized Orban for his so-called “peace trip” to Russia and China shortly after Hungary took over the presidency.
– This was never a peace mission. It was a war-prolonging journey, Weber determined.
The leader of the social democratic S & D, Iratxe García Pérez, raged at Orban’s claim that illegal migration has led to increased homophobia in the EU.
– How can you talk about homophobia and gender-related violence, when you yourself remove laws that protect women and the LGBTQ movement, she said.
In his final post, Orban responded in kind.
– These are lies from the left and political propaganda, he said.
Competition Pact
Orban also launched Hungarian plans to get a competition pact for the EU adopted at an informal EU summit in Budapest in November.
There is little dispute that the EU must speed up its competitiveness.
However, Orban’s starting point is that a large part of the EU’s problems are due to blind faith in green transition and lack of access to Russian energy.
Many EU countries would disagree with that.
#Drive #hard #Orban #Parliament
The Unwavering Stance of Ursula von der Leyen Against Viktor Orbán: A Victory for EU Unity
In a recent development, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has publicly admonished Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán for his country’s siding with Russia in the Ukraine conflict and its anti-democratic policies. This came after Orbán was invited to present Hungary’s priorities during its six-month presidency of the EU, but the event turned into an opportunity for many to publicly rebuke him.
Von der Leyen’s determined stance against Orbán received applause, marking a significant victory for EU unity and a robust show of support for Ukraine in its ongoing conflict with Russia. According to multiple sources, including The Guardian [[1]]and the Financial Times [[2]], von der Leyen directly criticized Orbán for trying to block EU aid to Ukraine and for attempting to broker a peace deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
These developments indicate a growing schism within the EU, with Hungary’s stance on the Ukraine conflict and its increasingly authoritarian tendencies sparking outrage among other member states. Al Jazeera [[3]]reports that several EU officials have publicly scolded Orbán for his country’s behavior, with von der Leyen leading the charge.
Von der Leyen’s decision to confront Orbán publicly highlights her unwavering commitment to upholding the EU’s core values and principles. Her courage in speaking out against a fellow EU leader demonstrates the depth of her conviction and her determination to protect the integrity of the EU.
Orbán’s actions, on the other hand, have raised concerns about Hungary’s commitment to the EU’s democratic credentials and its stated support for Ukraine in the ongoing conflict. His attempts to block EU aid to Ukraine have been widely criticized, and his decision to visit Moscow this summer to negotiate with Putin has been seen as a thinly veiled attempt to benefit Russia at the expense of EU unity.
The fallout from this incident has far-reaching implications for the EU and its relationships with member states. As the EU navigates this complex web of competing interests and allegiances, von der Leyen’s leadership is poised to play a critical role in shaping the EU’s future trajectory.
Ultimately, this episode serves as a powerful reminder of the EU’s core values of unity, solidarity, and democracy. Von der Leyen’s unwavering stance against Orbán has reinvigorated the EU’s commitment to upholding these principles, sending a powerful signal to those who would seek to undermine them.
References:
[1] https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/oct/09/ursula-von-der-leyen-attacks-viktor-orban-over-pro-russia-stance
[2] https://www.ft.com/content/c7db7292-90b1-42f3-a2cd-c8a67263092c
[3] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/10/9/eu-officials-blast-hungarys-orban-over-ukraine-migrants-democracy