Orban's EU needs to behave as a bridge with Russia | EUROtoday

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BUDAPEST – The many sides of the Hungarian authorities had been revealed yesterday to the European press. The provocative and combative one, but in addition the average and pragmatic one. On Monday, Hungary, led by nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, took over the reins of the European Union for six months. The authorities spokesman introduced that the nation needs to “leave its mark.” Last evening, there have been rumors that the prime minister would possibly journey to Moscow, maybe as early as in the present day, to satisfy President Vladimir Putin.

The most provocative face is embodied by probably the most trusted collaborators of the sulphurous Prime Minister Orbán. At 55, Zoltán Kovács, who pairs a blue blazer with pale denims, is the Hungarian authorities's minister for worldwide communication. “We know the rules of the rotating presidency of the Union,” he advised a bunch of Brussels correspondents yesterday right here in Budapest. “Viktor Orbán will use the presidency in a political way (…) Ours is a political agenda.”

Last evening, press sources claimed that the prime minister may journey to Moscow to satisfy with President Putin, after having met with President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kiev on Monday. In the absence of affirmation from his Hungarian counterpart, European Council President Charles Michel recalled on X that “the rotating presidency does not have the mandate to engage with Russia on behalf of the Union.” Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Budapest has refused to arm Kiev, and helps the concept of ​​pursuing peace.

The motto of the Hungarian presidency has made many individuals frown: Make Europe Great Again. No one missed the will to ape the slogan of former American President Donald Trump (Make America Great Again). During a go to to the United States in March, Prime Minister Orbán met together with his American comrade, making no secret of his sympathy for the businessman who, after being defeated on the polls in 2021, promoted a siege on the Capitol.

For years now, Hungary has been a sui generis nation locally, the topic of a process underneath Article 7 of the Treaties as a result of a worrying drift of the rule of regulation when it comes to educational freedom or civil rights. Community funds have lengthy been frozen whereas ready for the nation to fall into line. For Minister Kovács, that is “blackmail”, “a political weapon against a country that, unlike others, does not want to conform”.