It is actually a private visit, as he is taking part in the “Peace in Europe” discussion event organized by the Swiss weekly newspaper “Weltwoche” together with former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder. However, his planned meetings with two FPÖ politicians, National Council President Walter Rosenkranz and Freedom Party leader Herbert Kickl are causing a stir.
However, encounters between the long-standing Hungarian Prime Minister, who has been active in top politics since 1989 and has ruled for a total of 18 years, are also not unusual with Austrian politicians from other parties. Rosenkranz’s predecessor as National Council President, Wolfgang Sobotka (ÖVP), was also in regular contact with his Hungarian counterpart László Kövér, one of the founding members of the Fidesz movement.
Of course, the FPÖ’s connections with Orbán’s party are much stronger, and the right-wing factions also cooperate in the EU Parliament. The liberal general secretary Christian Hafenecker is also chairman of the official parliamentary friendship group with Hungary. In this role, he most recently invited Hungary’s Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó to parliament. At that time he was hoping for an FPÖ government that could form an axis with Hungary and Slovakia.
Below is a chronology of these meetings since 2016 outside the EU framework:
2016
- 26 July: Chancellor Christian Kern (SPÖ) visits Orbán in Budapest. The central topic of the talks, which are taking place in the wake of the 2015 refugee crisis, is migration. There had previously been heated bilateral exchanges with Kern’s predecessor Werner Faymann (SPÖ) over Hungarian asylum policy and the construction of fences on the borders with Serbia and Croatia. The two heads of government emphasize that they want to open “a new chapter” in bilateral relations.
- 24. September: Kern invites people to a refugee summit in Vienna, which Orbán also takes part in. The Hungarian head of government praises the improvement in relations there.
2017
The Hungarian government commented favorably on the election of Sebastian Kurz as ÖVP chairman in May and his election victory in October. At this time, the governing party Fidesz, like the ÖVP, was still a member of the European People’s Party (EPP).
- 13 June: Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen makes his inaugural visit to Hungary. After the passage of a controversial NGO law, he is particularly committed to the aid organization SOS Children’s Villages, which was founded in Austria. The former Green politician also advocates with Orbán for an agreement regarding the Central European University (CEU), whose continued existence in Hungary is in jeopardy due to a new law. The CEU was founded by the Hungarian-born, liberal US billionaire George Soros, who is considered Orbán’s “public enemy number 1”. Ultimately, the CEU later found itself forced to move its teaching programs from Budapest to Vienna.
2018
- January 30: Prime Minister Orbán is coming to Vienna for a sensational visit as the first foreign guest of the new turquoise-blue government. The Austrian opposition criticized in advance because Orbán was a “proponent of illiberal democracy”. While the mood at the meeting with Chancellor Kurz seems rather cool, despite agreement on the issue of migration, Vice Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache (FPÖ) is visibly enthusiastic about the Hungarian head of government.
- 21 June: Chancellor Kurz takes part in the meeting of the Visegrád states (V4) in Budapest. He represents Austria’s rotating EU Council Presidency shortly before it begins on July 1st. Together with Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland, Kurz is insisting on a hard line in EU refugee policy.
2022
- 28 July: After a break of several years in the wake of the political upheavals in Austria after Ibiza and the corona pandemic, Orbán only made another official visit to Austria after four years, this time to see Federal Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP). Orbán is under fire for his previous criticism of “race mixing”. He emphasizes that for him it is “not about race, but about culture.” At this point, Orbán’s Fidesz is no longer a member of the EPP, which it left in 2021 after a long period of estrangement.
- 3 October: Nehammer meets Orbán and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić in Budapest for the first of several trilateral migration summits. The main issue is the increase in refugee flows via the Balkan route, in particular the sharp increase in illegal migration to the EU from India and Tunisia via Serbia due to the visa-free regime there. This will be lifted later.
- 16. November: Second trilateral migration summit, this time in Belgrade.
2023
- July 7: Third trilateral migration summit, this time in Vienna. There, Nehammer strongly criticized Orbán’s migration policy. “It is true that irregular migrants are not staying in Hungary, but 80 percent come to Austria through Hungary and we then have 109,000 asylum applications and Hungary has 45,” the Chancellor told the media.
2024
- 30 June: After the EU elections, Orbán presented the new far-right European faction “Patriots for Europe” in Vienna together with FPÖ leader Kickl and Czech Republic’s former prime minister Andrej Babiš. It also includes the French Rassemblement National, the Italian Lega and the Spanish Vox. The new merger will be the third largest group in the European Parliament with 84 members.
ePaper
**Interview with Political Analyst Dr. Anna Müller on Orbán’s Recent Private Visit to Austria**
*Editor:* Today, we’re speaking with Dr. Anna Müller, a political analyst specializing in European politics, to discuss the recent private visit by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to Austria, particularly his talks with FPÖ politicians. Welcome, Dr. Müller.
**Dr. Müller:** Thank you for having me.
*Editor:* The visit was labeled a private one, but it has sparked significant controversy, especially concerning Orbán’s meetings with figures like National Council President Walter Rosenkranz and FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl. What are your thoughts on the implications of these meetings?
**Dr. Müller:** It’s a complex situation. Orbán represents a political ideology that significantly resonates with the FPÖ, which has openly supported right-wing populist policies in Europe. This meeting suggests an intention to strengthen ties between the two parties, which could have implications for both Austrian and European political landscapes, particularly regarding migration policies.
*Editor:* You mentioned migration policies. How have the past encounters between Austrian and Hungarian leaders influenced their positions on this issue?
**Dr. Müller:** Historical meetings, such as those during the 2015 refugee crisis, show that while there have been tensions in the past, both sides have managed to find common ground, particularly on migration. Every Austrian Chancellor from Christian Kern to Karl Nehammer has engaged with Orbán, often with migration as a focal point. The FPÖ’s alignment with Orbán’s hardline stance could push Austria toward stricter policies, echoing similar approaches in Hungary.
*Editor:* This isn’t the first time FPÖ and Orbán’s ties have drawn attention. Can you elaborate on the broader implications of their relationship within the EU?
**Dr. Müller:** Absolutely. The FPÖ has been part of a larger right-wing coalition in the European Parliament, which has grown recently with Orbán’s party joining forces with others. This could change the dynamics of EU policymaking, especially on issues like migration and human rights. The growing right-wing populism is challenging the traditional center-right parties and can lead to shifts in governance that prioritize national interests over EU solidarity.
*Editor:* how might this visit and partnership affect Austria’s relationship with the EU at large?
**Dr. Müller:** There could be tensions as Austria navigates its dual identity—balancing national interests against EU obligations. If the government aligns more closely with Orbán, it may face scrutiny from EU institutions advocating for democratic values and human rights. Austria might have to manage a delicate balance to avoid isolation within the EU, especially from other member states that view Orbán’s policies critically.
*Editor:* Thank you, Dr. Müller, for your insightful analysis on this topic.
**Dr. Müller:** My pleasure! It’s a fascinating development, and I’ll be watching closely how this unfolds.
