Orbán fights EU on immigration and gender policies
Listen To Story Above
In a candid year-end interview with Hungarian public television, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán emphasized fundamental disagreements with the European Union, particularly regarding immigration policies and gender-related matters.
Speaking about immigration concerns, Orbán expressed firm opposition to EU-imposed regulations, declaring his refusal to allow Hungary to experience incidents similar to the recent Christmas market attack in Magdeburg. The attack, carried out by a Saudi Arabian immigrant who worked as a psychiatrist and assisted other asylum-seekers, has intensified the debate over immigration policies.
Many people across Western Europe try to deny the connection between mass migration and acts of terrorism. The sad truth is that before the migration crisis, such heinous attacks did not happen in Europe. Now they do.
We pray for the people of Germany and Magdeburg! 🙏 pic.twitter.com/i1DKB3fwEZ
— Orbán Viktor (@PM_ViktorOrban) December 22, 2024
During a separate media engagement in Budapest, Orbán reinforced his stance, drawing direct connections between migration and terrorism. He suggested that EU leadership’s policies could expose Hungary to similar security risks as those faced in Magdeburg.
The prime minister’s comments come amid ongoing tensions with the EU. Last June, Hungary faced significant financial penalties from the European Court of Justice, including a 200 million euro fine and daily penalties of 1 million euros for non-compliance with EU immigration regulations. Despite these pressures, Orbán has maintained that Hungary’s migration and asylum policies are matters of national sovereignty that Brussels cannot dictate.
The discussion extended beyond immigration to encompass gender-related policies, another point of contention between Hungary and the EU. Orbán addressed ongoing legal challenges regarding Hungary’s restrictions on gender-theory education in schools, firmly stating that such matters fall outside EU jurisdiction and represent an unbridgeable ideological gap.
Every country has the right to walk it’s own path. This is ours. pic.twitter.com/9wCmPtrECt
— Orbán Viktor (@PM_ViktorOrban) December 23, 2024
Looking toward global political shifts, Orbán expressed optimism about the rise of patriotic movements worldwide, particularly noting Trump’s November victory in the United States. He predicted significant changes in the Western political landscape, suggesting that Brussels’ current approach would soon be outdated.
These sentiments were echoed by Hungarian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Levente Magyar, who recently discussed improving U.S.-Hungary relations in a Breitbart News interview following Orbán’s meeting with Trump and Elon Musk in Florida. Magyar emphasized Hungary’s current disconnect with the Biden administration and highlighted potential alignment with new leadership on key issues, including the Ukraine-Russia conflict.
