With the victory claimed by his “friend” Donald Trump, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban appears in a position of strength as he receives European leaders from Thursday, after months of tackles and “provocations”.
He who bet everything on the American billionaire, contrary to the reluctance of the EU, was jubilant on Wednesday, hailing a “resounding success, perhaps the greatest comeback in Western political history”.
“They threatened him with prison, confiscated his property, tried to assassinate him (…) and yet he won,” he wrote on the social network Facebook.
The 47 countries of the European Political Community (EPC), made up of the Twenty-Seven and their neighbors, from Turkey to Ukraine, meet in Budapest on Thursday, before an EU conclave the next day.
For this largest diplomatic meeting ever organized in Hungary, Viktor Orban chose the flamboyant Puskas Arena stadium, named after the legendary football player Ferenc Puskas, symbol of his passion for football.
– “Make Europe Great Again” –
As much as an election of Democrat Kamala Harris in the American presidential race would have weakened him, a success for Donald Trump gives him “a clear advantage”, analyzes Lukas Macek of the Jacques Delors Institute for AFP.
The same contempt for elites and the same hatred of immigration: Viktor Orban has fervently supported the Republican since 2016. To the point of declining his slogan for the six months of the Hungarian presidency of the EU, “Make Europe Great Again”, direct inspiration from “Make America Great Again”.
The two allies agree on the urgency of establishing peace in Ukraine, criticize military aid to kyiv and share affinities with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“If the Americans opt for peace” by choosing Trump, “we will have to adapt,” Mr. Orban warned last weekend, adding that this would be one of the topics of discussion at the summit.
Rumors of a video call with the ex-business tycoon are circulating.
“Viktor Orban likes flashes but it is difficult to organize during a summit,” reacts a European diplomat. Instead, he imagines a simple phone call between the two men after already two interviews this year.
– “Preserved appearances” –
Since taking over the rotating presidency of the EU in July, the nationalist leader, who has remained close to the Kremlin, has continued to irritate his peers who criticize his “provocations”.
First with his “peace mission” to Moscow, decided without consultation, and more recently with his trip to Georgia where he welcomed “free and democratic” elections despite the “irregularities” reported by Brussels and Washington.
Mr. Orban also increased his attacks, accusing Brussels of wanting to overthrow him to install “a puppet government”.
The atmosphere will undoubtedly not be very warm “but at the same time, as always in these circumstances, appearances will be preserved”, underlines Mr. Macek.
After the unprecedented boycott by European commissioners and certain ministers of the meetings organized in Budapest, this week's summits should take place without many absentees.
Not coming would be a “bad idea”, according to the President of the European Council Charles Michel, calling for “making the remarks in person” to Viktor Orban.
“Many participants will find the means to make their disagreements heard,” believes the political scientist. “Their patience is wearing thin.”
In Brussels, a senior official confirms that “the leaders will not hesitate to be frank and to explain themselves” with the Hungarian Prime Minister. While “not being present would mean letting Orban unfold his narrative without contradictions,” whispers a diplomatic source.
But others temper the issues. Far from the virulent speeches of its leader, Hungary “generally sticks to the program and the agenda” when it is responsible for the organization, says another source, who therefore expects a classic summit. If not for its location.
