Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Saturday renewed an attack on the European Union for conducting what he called an "LGBTQ offensive", saying his nationalist government would protect the country's Christian roots.
In a speech in Romania, Orban - a long-standing critic of Brussels - also said he hoped next year's European parliament elections would strengthen governments within the bloc that reject the "federalism" represented by Germany and France.
In power since 2010, Orban passed a law in 2021 banning the use of materials seen as promoting homosexuality and gender change at schools, citing the need to protect children from "LGBTQ propaganda" and thereby escalating a row with the EU.
He has also clashed with Brussels over other issues including the rule of law, and reforms to Hungary's media and the judiciary.
The EU is "either an empire or (individual) nations ... We should not have any illusions: the federalists are trying to squeeze us out," Orban said.
"They openly wanted a change in government (in 2022) in Hungary," Orban said, adding that the same was now true of Poland.
Poland holds parliamentary elections this autumn, when the conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party will seek a third term. It has adopted many policies that chime with Orban's, and both countries are locked in a rule-of-law dispute with the bloc that has led to the suspension of certain EU funds.
Orban said a balance between federalists and nations unwilling to cede more powers to Brussels was upset when Britain left the bloc, and now only Warsaw and Budapest were "sticking to their (anti-federalist) stance."
He has meanwhile upped his anti-LGBT rhetoric as Hungary's economic troubles have escalated. Annual inflation topped 25% in the first quarter.
"The EU rejects Christian heritage, carries out a replacement of its population via migration ... and conducts an LGBTQ offensive," he said on Saturday.
© Thomson Reuters 2023.
48 Comments
njca4
4 people in my family ... We agree on almost nothing lol
Never going to get 27 countries to agree on things like this, especially in times when they're being led by right wing conservatives.
Aly Rustom
VERY true. The US would be the same way if they didn't have a federal government to keep the cohesiveness which the EU lacks.
The way the EU is structured today is not viable. They need to either federalize like the US and Canada OR go back to the EEC structure- which is what the South Americans have with Mercosur (having abandoned a Federation of South American States UNASUR.)
Superlib
Ron DeSantis' hero.
Rodney
He is a right wing conservative but he is actually EU only hope.
plasticmonkey
There we go. The Great Replacement theory. Which is why Orban is so popular among MAGA/Q-Anon/White Supremacist Americans. Spoke at CPAC. Tucker did a special from Hungary.
Birds of a feather.
Time-tested MO of the authoritarian right: blame racial minorities for the country's problems, and spread fear about "traditional values" being under threat.
plasticmonkey
Hungary certainly has not come to terms with its Fascist past.
https://www.npr.org/2019/02/08/690647054/hungarys-new-holocaust-museum-isn-t-open-yet-but-it-s-already-causing-worry
Strangerland
"Kick out all the immigrants and their children, going all the way back to... right after my ancestors got here."
opheliajadefeldt
Hey Mr Orban, their were gay people around in Greek and Roman times, in fact and through European history. So what ever you do they will survive, because you cannot stop someone who is gay. I am a gay female and nothing will ever change that, I just cannot stand having any man too close to me.
itsonlyrocknroll
For Hungary, Poland, and maybe other member states EU federalization is clearly not remotely in their interests.
Poland future, and continued militarization, soon to be close to 3% of GDP.
Poland dreams of building Europe’s largest army, against backdrop of Russia’s war against Ukraine.
https://theconversation.com/poland-dreams-of-building-europes-largest-army-against-backdrop-of-russias-war-against-ukraine-192580
Poland is in many respects focused more on NATO membership than anything the EU has to offer.
The pandemic, the war in Ukraine has exposed EU commission, France, Germany, that this union is anything but equal.
France and Germany strong personal interests are at the expense politically economically to take advantage of other member states.
I remember one of my uncles jesting, don’t join a golf club, if you don’t really like or want to play golf.
bass4funk
I like the guy, I think Orban is a true patriot for his people, and if other people don't like him or his policies then that is their prerogative.
Yes!
No, not at all to do with that, this is about this admin., and their wretched apologies.
Looking at the border and watching your country slide further into the abyss would alarm anyone.
plasticmonkey
The rise of Orban and the other semi-fascist authoritarians over the past couple of decades is because of the Biden administration?
wallace
Orban/hungry is also required to follow the regulations of the EU, over his personal opinions if he wants to continue to receive EU money €5.5 billion and €8.7 billion from the IMF.
plasticmonkey
Oh, just remembered another hallmark of far right authoritarianism: whitewash and mythologize the nation's history and cram this uncritical narrative into the public school system. Orban's doing it in Hungary, and the current MAGA GQP is working on it as well.
wallace
Orban forgets about the 1956 Soviet invasion. He compares that with the EU.
He should leave the EU.
bass4funk
I wouldn't call the guy a fascist, but nowadays, if the left sees any patriot-loving person as a fascist, then so be it.
Yes.
Ahh, but if it were about social and gender issues and LGBTQ issues that would be perfectly fine, right?
Well, if the left can push the LGBTQ issue as well as Gender issues then MAGA and the GOP can go for a solid patriotic agenda as well. Welcome to the world of politics, may the most gifted politician win.
wallace
Viktor Orban is a nationalist, not a patriot.
bass4funk
I see him as both.
itsonlyrocknroll
Hungary, Poland and the EU: it's the money, stupid?
https://www.cer.org.uk/insights/hungary-poland-and-eu-its-money-stupid
Politics and all the numbers above.
The geopolitics/economics could become a nightmare awaiting to happen.
If EU funds are regularly frozen, investors will lose confidence and may stop financing Hungary and Poland’s budget and current account, or ‘twin’ deficits (see Chart 2). This would put much more downward pressure on their currencies and may ultimately lead to a balance-of-payments or financial crisis. Such a panic could spill over to other eastern-European countries and some pockets of the wider EU financial system.
To build a more durable strategy to protect the rule of law in Europe, the EU should change the way it thinks about the relationship between EU values, the Union’s legal order and its member-states’ rights and obligations. Both the internal market and the area of freedom, security and justice work because there is an implied trust that all national courts follow the same standards. Once this is no longer the case, membership of not only the single market, but also the EU’s borderless area of Schengen become endangered. The Union should make that link clear.
These questions should be at the forefront of accepting a more pragmatic compromise.
wallace
Viktor Orban has stated that Hungary is for white Christians with only about 5,000 Muslims living in the country. This goes against the EU's freedom of movement.
bass4funk
So you think White Christian’s can go to any Muslim country and and push for their religion and rights to be equally recognized or let’s not use Christians, how about atheism? You think any Muslim leader allow that?
Yes or No?
itsonlyrocknroll
Both Hungary and Poland quite openly have issues with immigration, to put it mildly.
The histrionics in Hungary's case are no shock or horror.
The EU commission is not in all seriousness going to attempt to force Muslim refugees into Hungary
Why an anti-Islam campaign has taken root in Hungary, a country with few Muslims
https://www.visegradgroup.eu/why-an-anti-islam#:~:text=Yet%2C%20in%20recent%20years%2C%20Hungary's,Islam%20in%20a%20negative%20light.
Why was this fact not clearly researched on Hungary's membership profile?
Hungary and the EU: A deepening divide
https://www.gisreportsonline.com/r/hungary-eu-divide/
TaiwanIsNotChina
Well he sells out his country to its former occupier. That's not very patriotic.
bass4funk
I disagree
wallace
bass4funkToday 03:37 pm JST
Viktor Orban has stated that Hungary is for white Christians with only about 5,000 Muslims living in the country. This goes against the EU's freedom of movement.
So you think White Christian’s can go to any Muslim country and and push for their religion and rights to be equally recognized or let’s not use Christians, how about atheism? You think any Muslim leader allow that?
Yes or No?
Stop with your Yes or No?
I am not going to answer it.
Hungary is a member of the EU which has freedom of movement for living and working. Period.
It does not matter what any other non-EU country allows or not.
Any citizen of the EU can live and work in Hungary.
https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_freiz_gg_eu/englisch_freiz_gg_eu.html
wallace
itsonlyrocknroll
I was not commenting on immigrants and refugees. Just other EU citizens who come in all colors and religions.
bass4funk
Yes and to my question, you think the Muslims would be any different were the rules reversed? Yes or No?
That is what I asked you, sir.
No, you sadly don’t get to dictate a simple question that’s asked.
Because we all know the answer
Yes, a Christian nation that want to hold on to their Christian conservatives values, they don’t want to be like France, Germany or Sweden, they have that right to protect their culture, the Muslims would, would they not?
Well, Hungarians disagree with you.
Well, that depends on the citizens, and so far they want to retain their culture which is their fundamental right.
Fighto!
25% inflation, the economy in tatters. This old politician is desperately looking for a distraction.
wallace
bass4funk
it does not matter what happens in other non-EU countries. With the EU there are nearly 500 million citizens, not immigrants/refugees who are able to travel to and live and work in any other EU country.
Viktor Orban takes the EUs 6 billion Euros every year. He/Hungary is required to follow the agreed regulations of the EU which Hungary is a signature.
They should leave the EU if they don't want to follow the regulations.
bass4funk
So you’re going to stop Orban?
He doesn’t and? So now what? We should go to war? Really?
Again, you don’t get to dictate anything. The Muslims wouldn’t put up with it, Orban won’t either, good on him.
wallace
bass4funk
Stupid but the EU will withhold its funding.
The funding will end and like the UK he can leave the EU. He can't play the game both ways.
They should leave the EU if they don't want to follow the regulations.
Don't understand you last line.
I like you can post any opinion I want.
Stay in the EU and follow the regulations or leave the EU.
bass4funk
Hasn't done it yet, and probably won’t either.
Again, you have this is a concrete action that will be taken? You think anyone could force Muslim nations to take in thousands of Christians? Is it possible?
Again, you don’t make that call.
It’s in English.
So you will force them? How? Well, good luck on that one.
itsonlyrocknroll
I understand Wallace, I sincerely hope I have not given you the suggestion/impression otherwise.
The expansion to 27/8 member states was always going to present challenges, under treaty law.
Immigration was in this case a flashpoint.
If the threat of federalism had receded, UK would still be a member state.
The economic and fiscal case alone for UK withdrawal was always a non starter.
The fact that Poland and Hungary will not just walkaway is another matter altogether.
The war in Ukraine could make matter worse politically
wallace
bass4funk
How does that relate to the EU and freedom of movement? You keep asking an unrelated question.
They should leave the EU if they don't want to follow the regulations.
I have already told you we can all post our opinions.
Really
I like you can post any opinion I want.
You have a strange mixed-up understanding of the EU. Probably because you are an America.
Redemption
You want the money you have to kiss the ring.
bass4funk
I give you a direct answer
I think we should leave Ukraine but no one is listening to that either.
Sure, but the fact is Hungary isn’t going anywhere, they all know it.
No, it’s spot on.
Even better, it helps a lot.
TrevorPeace
opheliajadefeldtToday 12:35 pm JST
Hey Mr Orban, their were gay people around in Greek and Roman times, in fact and through European history. So what ever you do they will survive, because you cannot stop someone who is gay. I am a gay female and nothing will ever change that, I just cannot stand having any man too close to me.
Lady (you probably hate being called that), until the last eleven words of your post, I was going to give you an up-vote because I know gay men and women, and I support their life-choice. It's 'live and let live' in my world. But none of them would say what you said. You've transformed your gay-ness into hate, and that's pitiful.
wallace
Orban will have two options. Follow EU regulations or lose EU funding.
bass4funk
That’s like saying Russia will return Crimea to Ukraine
itsonlyrocknroll
Wallace, EU have managed to hold back to a certain extent.
This could be a reason why.
China’s Growing Foothold in Hungary
Deepening Sino-Hungarian ties may pose further challenges to EU unity on China.
https://thediplomat.com/2023/02/chinas-growing-foothold-in-hungary/
wallace
bass4funk
your comments are just going around in circles and repeating yourself.
The EU is already withholding funds.
"Brussels is currently withholding nearly €28 billion in EU funds from Hungary. This includes the country's entire share of the bloc's cohesion funds for the 2021-2027 period amounting to €22 billion and €5.8 billion under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), the bloc's post-COVID stimulus programme.May 4, 2023".
https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2023/05/04/budapest-says-brussels-biased-for-political-reasons-and-unfairly-withholding-eu-funds
wallace
itsonlyrocknroll
the Chinese are building a nuclear plant in the UK.
China General Nuclear continues to be an investor in the only major British nuclear power station under construction, at Hinkley Point in southwest England. It also has long-held plans to build a Chinese-designed plant at some point at Bradwell, not far from London.
bass4funk
As you are.
Then that is their choice. Orban is not going to concede and allow his country to look like Germany (if you still want to call it that)
wallace
Orban needs to hold a referendum on continued EU membership.
Germany: German 86.3%, Turkish 1.8%, Polish 1%, Syrian 1%, Romanian 1%, other/stateless/unspecified 8.9% (2020 est.)
America: Whites 75%.
bass4funk
Back in 2016…
This is exactly why Hungarians are so afraid.
https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/sweden-quran-burnings-101529405
And you’re going to get more of this if it continues, this is why the Hungarians want to and have a right to retain and hold on to their culture, they don’t want it eroded and why should they? Muslims wouldn’t tolerate it.
wallace
Hungary cannot stop any EU citizen from visiting or living there.
bass4funk
There are many cities and towns that aren’t even German anymore, you wouldn’t even know you’re in Germany, you would think you are in Turkey. Many of them refuse to assimilate and that’s pushing more and more natives out of their own country. Why should any country tolerate that? Because the liberal social warriors want it to be so?
Hungary is. Denmark is starting to.
bass4funk
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-57156835
The Danish have had enough.
wallace
bass4funk
You are confusing refugees and immigrants with EU citizens.
Since Hungary is a member country of the Schengen Zone, all citizens of the rest of EU/EEA member states can enter carrying only an identification document.
Turks in Germany are only 1.8% of the population.