Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is very strong after the election victory earlier this year. For 16 years in total, he has ruled the country and even when the entire opposition came together in an alliance, he could not be defeated. With this renewed vigor, he is now taking on the EU, which his Fidesz party is not particularly fond of. Brussels’ best counter-weapon is to withhold money promised to Hungary.
Hungary continues to buy Russian gas
The battle between Brussels and Budapest is particularly problematic precisely when the EU needs to show a united front against Russia and Putin. And time and time again, Hungary obstructs in matters concerning the EU’s line towards Russia. Hungary has been against sanctions and at the same time continued to buy Russian gas. Furthermore, Hungary has threatened to block the EU’s decision on budget support for Ukraine for next year. Viktor Orbán himself emphasizes that he is still acting in the best interest of Hungary. But others disagree. Hungary’s unclear attitude towards the war has not least irritated Poland, and a split is now visible between the former friends.
Cast: Susanne PalmeEU commentator. Sara SvenssonHungarian expert and political scientist at Halmstad University. Therese Larsson Hultinforeign affairs analyst for Svenska Dagbladet.
Program manager: Claes Aronsson
Producer: Therese Rosenvinge
Technician: Andreas Ericsson
Source: ICELAND NEWS