“European democracy is dying”. Viktor Orban accuses Brussels and Kiev of trying to influence the Hungarian elections
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban accused Brussels and Kiev on Saturday of trying to influence the April 12 elections in order to change the government, in a speech addressed to ultraconservative leaders in Budapest, in which he also denounced the alleged deterioration of European democracy, EFE informs, according to Agerpres.
“European democracy is dying because its economy is not successful, because of political censorship and because it openly interferes in national elections,” Orban said in his speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). “This is also happening in Hungary,” added the Hungarian prime minister in front of hundreds of activists and ultra-conservative politicians.
“They are openly demanding a pro-Brussels and pro-Kiev government in Hungary. There won't be one,” Orban stressed, stating that the European Executive is no longer the guardian of the treaties. “Brussels is not the guardian of the treaties, it betrays them,” he stressed.
CPAC is being held in Budapest for the fifth time, this time with 667 participants from 51 countries, including Argentine President Javier Milei and Spain's far-right Vox party leader Santiago Abascal.
“Abascal is my boss. We couldn't ask for a better leader than you,” Orban told the attendees.
The Hungarian Prime Minister also praised Argentine President Javier Milei.
“He demonstrated that common sense is the key to success, not progressive madness,” Orban said of Milei, adding that “today Argentina is a bastion of right-wing forces.”
Message of support from Trump
Before the Hungarian prime minister's speech, US President Donald Trump greeted the conference with a video message in which he expressed his support for Orban in the April 12 parliamentary elections.
“I'm supporting Orban in the next election. He's a fantastic person, I'm glad I can support him,” said Trump, a close associate of the Hungarian prime minister.
The US president thanked the conference participants for their “commitment to common sense and conservative values”, adding that the two nations – the US and Hungary – “will lead the way to a renewed West”.
The day's speakers included Andre Ventura, president of Portugal's far-right Chega party, and Brazilian congressman Eduardo Bolsonaro, son of former president Jair Bolsonaro.
Viktor Orban, in power since 2010 and three weeks away from legislative elections, has focused his campaign on alleged interference from Ukraine and accuses Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy of preventing the restoration of Russian oil traffic through the Drujba pipeline, damaged by Moscow's attacks.
Polls predict a possible defeat for Orban's Fidesz party to his rival, conservative Peter Magyar, who leads the Tisza party.
The conservative think tank Freedom House considers Hungary a “partly free” country and not a full democracy after 16 years in power under Orban, whose party has changed numerous regulations and unilaterally adopted a new constitution.
