Tajik Opposition Journalist’s Brother Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban continues to make waves with his nationalist agenda, taking shots at the European Union and expressing his support for former U.S. President Donald Trump. During a recent speech in the Romanian spa town of Tusnad, Orban touched on a variety of controversial topics, highlighting his opposition to progressive policies in Western countries and his support for what he perceives as Christian values.
Orban criticized the lack of public morality in the West and slammed the European Union leadership for what he described as constant warfare, likely a reference to the EU’s support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia. He also reiterated his endorsement of Trump, confidently predicting the former president’s victory in the upcoming U.S. election.
The Hungarian leader claimed to have spoken with Trump recently and suggested that Hungarian professionals are contributing to the development of Trump’s program, although this assertion has not been confirmed. In response to Orban’s remarks, U.S. Ambassador to Hungary David Pressman reposted a portion of a speech criticizing Orban’s interference in American politics.
Orban’s speech in Tusnad also focused on his commitment to supporting ethnic Hungarians in other countries, as well as his government’s controversial policies towards civil society, media independence, and opposition parties in Hungary. Despite facing backlash from the EU and NATO over his ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin and his stance on the Ukraine conflict, Orban remains a polarizing figure in European politics.
As Hungary holds the rotating EU presidency, Orban’s nationalist rhetoric and confrontational approach to international relations continue to raise concerns among European leaders. Whether his alliance with Trump and Putin will lead to significant policy changes or further isolate Hungary on the global stage remains to be seen.
