The Rift between Viktor Orbán and Manfred Weber
Viktor Orbán Faces Personal Attacks in European Parliament Debate
On Wednesday morning, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán addressed the European Parliament in Strasbourg regarding the program of the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the EU. However, the debate quickly turned contentious as several group leaders launched personal attacks against Orbán, including Manfred Weber, leader of the European People’s Party (EPP).
Weber accused Orbán of representing “egoism and nationalism” rather than patriotism, and criticized the Hungarian government for corruption, claiming that almost 400,000 Hungarians have left the country due to corrupt practices. He also condemned Orbán’s trip to Moscow, alleging that it was not for peace but “to prolong the war.” Despite this, Weber praised MEP Péter Magyar, leader of the main Hungarian opposition party (TISZA), for his role in returning Hungary to the European Parliament.
In response, Orbán defended Hungary’s commitment to “unity in diversity” and rejected the idea that European unity means silencing dissent. He also highlighted the treatment of MEPs from the Patriots for Europe group in the European Parliament, pointing out that in Hungary, opposition representatives are not deprived of their positions.
During the debate, Orbán challenged Weber’s assertion that nobody was talking to the Hungarians, reminding him of his meetings with key European leaders in preparation for the EU presidency. He also made a personal remark about their past interactions, suggesting that Weber’s anger towards him stemmed from Orbán’s role in preventing him from becoming Commission President.
Orbán concluded by expressing regret that their conflict had led to what he described as “Hungarophobia” on Weber’s part. He dismissed Weber’s criticisms as a result of personal grievances and reaffirmed Hungary’s commitment to its presidency of the Council of the EU.
The debate highlighted the ongoing tensions between Orbán and European leaders, underscoring the challenges facing the EU in finding common ground on issues of governance and ideology.
