After Belgium, it’s time for the unpredictable Hungary: Viktor Orban’s country took over the Council of the European Union for six months on Monday and promised, in the face of fears in Brussels, to act with ‘impartiality’.
Anti-democratic excesses and links with the Kremlin despite the Russian offensive in Ukraine: the Hungarian presidency is causing unease within the European Parliament and in several member states, at a time when France is also causing concern, with the far right on the threshold of power.
In Brussels, however, the mood was “joyful” on Monday, according to the words of the Hungarian Prime Minister, all smiles after the handover ceremony with Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo.
“Everyone is delighted that it is our turn to make Europe great again,” he wrote on X, echoing the much-criticised Trumpian slogan chosen by Budapest.
The Orban government has said it is ready to assume “the obligations and responsibilities” of its mission, which runs until December. “We will act as an impartial mediator,” said European Affairs Minister Janos Boka.
‘Back on track’
“At the same time,” he added, Hungary will use the spotlight to put forward its “vision of Europe” and “get things moving (…) in the right direction.”
On the rule of law, immigration or the conflict in Ukraine, she intends to make her dissenting voice heard, which has earned her repeated standoffs with her partners and the freezing of billions of euros of European funds.
‘Occupy Brussels’
After the last Hungarian presidency of the EU in 2011, Viktor Orban boasted of having given “friendly flicks, slaps and slaps” to the “excited executioners” of the European Parliament, in his eyes a den of “liberals and leftists”.
This time, the 61-year-old veteran appears even more combative, between the denigration of the Brussels ‘technocratic elite’ and the series of vetoes in recent months to block military aid to kyiv.
He had promised to “occupy Brussels” after European elections deemed “historic”, but although the June 9 vote marked a breakthrough for the far right, the tidal wave did not happen.
And Viktor Orban was unable to influence key EU positions: despite his opposition, leaders agreed to reappoint Ursula von der Leyen as head of the Commission.
A new group
As for the European Parliament, the Hungarian Prime Minister is far from having conquered it: he has lost deputies and his Fidesz party is still among the non-attached. Negotiations are nevertheless underway.
Mr Orban announced on Sunday from Vienna his intention to form a group of “Patriots for Europe” alongside the leader of the Austrian nationalist party FPÖ, Herbert Kickl, and the former Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis, founder of the ANO movement.
He still needs to gain support in four other countries before he can form a full-fledged faction.
‘Limited room for maneuver’
Enough to set the tone before starting a presidency focused on seven priorities, such as strengthening the bloc’s ‘economic competitiveness’, better combating ‘illegal immigration’, and bringing the Western Balkan countries closer to EU membership.
Experts say that Viktor Orban will probably try to obstruct cases and ease restrictions on the rule of law in order to get his hands on EU funds. But “his room for maneuver is limited,” says Daniel Hegedus, a researcher at the German Marshall Fund think tank.
The rotating presidency allows the country holding it to control the agenda of the meetings of the 27, a power that is not insignificant but not absolute, according to several European diplomats.
Especially since Belgium and the European institutions have worked extra hard to finalise important decisions and ‘thus limit instability’, Mr Hegedus explained to AFP.
A new package of sanctions against Russia has been approved and what have been described as “historic” accession negotiations have been officially opened with Ukraine – two decisions that Viktor Orban disapproves of.
Mr De Croo said he was “proud of the record” of his country and wished Hungary “good luck”. “I am convinced that you will be able to act in the interest of all EU citizens,” he said on social media.
/ATS
