Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban announced the formation of a political group with nationalist forces in Austria and the Czech Republic, seeking to break out of his isolation within the European Union and lure right-wing groups looking to build on rising support from voters.

Budapest

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has announced the formation of a political alliance with nationalist parties in Austria and the Czech Republic. The newly established group aims to become the largest right-wing faction within the European Union.

The alliance is seen as Orban's attempt to break out of his political isolation within the EU and attract right-wing groups looking to build on rising voter support. Orban's tenure has been marked by contentious relations with the EU, often creating international tension and keeping Hungary in a constant state of domestic mobilization.

Orban's strained relationship with the EU has resulted in ongoing criticism and pressure, particularly over concerns related to eroding democratic checks and balances in Hungary. This tension has led to delays in significant EU and NATO initiatives, including assistance for Ukraine and NATO expansion. 

As Hungary begins its six-month rotating presidency of the EU, the slogan "Make Europe Great Again," inspired by Orban's ties to former U.S. President Donald Trump, signals a potentially tumultuous period ahead. Hungarian officials have been known for vetoing important EU agreements, making everyday diplomatic activities challenging. However, the EU majority has at times managed to circumvent Orban’s vetoes.



Hungary's PM Orban to form far-right E.U. alliance

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has announced the formation of a political alliance with nationalist forces in Austria and the Czech Republic. The new group is seeking to become the largest right-wing grouping in the EU. Let's get some analysis. Joining us now for more, Bloomberg's, from Bloomberg this morning, Andrzej Gergely, thank you very much for being with us. So just how fractious has the relationship between Viktor Orban and the rest of the EU become? Right, so Orban just really thrives on creating international tension because it suits him to keep Hungary in a constant campaign mode domestically and in this electoral base mobilized. So that's how he's been winning elections for the last decade and a half. And that's, as you say, has been kind of an overarching theme of his relationship with the EU. And in turn, the EU has kept pressure on him for eroding checks and balances and running Hungary sort of effectively as a one-party state recently. And that has caused delays in some of the most important initiatives in the EU and also NATO when it comes to assistance for Ukraine and NATO expansion. OK, so we begin the six-month rotating presidency with Hungary at the helm. The catchphrase we understand for this rotating presidency led by the Hungarians is making Europe great again, make Europe great again. How is this going to be achieved? Yeah, so that slogan, of course, is a tribute to Orban's personal ties to Donald Trump. And as you say, it signals a sort of hectic period ahead for the EU while Orban is at the helm of the bloc. And Hungarian officials have been quite notorious for vetoing those major deals in Ukraine, but also making even sort of basic diplomatic activity in the in the EU a fairly difficult on a day-to-day basis. At the same time, the EU majority has often found ways to get around that and Orban's vetoes. So when Orban felt cornered, he sometimes just literally sort of shuffled out of the room and quietly let the others make decisions and sort of abstain. Andres, thank you very much indeed.

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