Orban's power challenged: Pressure mounts amidst opposition rise
After a decade and a half in power, Viktor Orban is facing serious competition and is becoming increasingly anxious. The Hungarian Prime Minister referred to his political opponents and critics of his government as "bugs".
- After today's celebrations, comes the big Easter cleaning up as the bugs have survived the winter - Orban remarked in a speech given on 15 March in Budapest to mark Hungary's National Day.
- The bugs have survived the winter - he stated. - We will eliminate the whole shadow army ... who have supported the empire for money, against their own country - he added.
Orban is accused of ruling his country for nearly 15 years using authoritarian methods. It is said that he has misused public funds to enrich oligarchs reliant on him, as well as his own relatives.
Orban describes himself as a "freedom fighter" and claims that Brussels is "conspiring" against him. In his view, critics and opponents in his country are merely "puppets of EU bureaucracy" and of alleged supporters from the global financial world.
Orban under pressure
The Hungarian Prime Minister has been under pressure in his country since a formidable contender emerged exactly a year ago. Moderately conservative Peter Magyar, who hails from Orban's Fidesz party and was the husband of former Justice Minister Judit Varga.
Magyar founded his own party, which regularly significantly outpaces Orban's party in independent public opinion polls. The next parliamentary elections in Hungary are scheduled for the spring of 2026.
Orban is becoming increasingly anxious and threatens even greater repression. Referring to political opponents and critics as "bugs" is an indication of his harsher tone, reminiscent of Nazi jargon. There is no evidence that political activists or representatives of civil society and independent media are "bought" by the EU or other Western donors.
Many civic organisations and media receive funding from state and private institutions in the West. They apply for these funds through transparent procedures and regularly report on their utilisation. Thus far, this has also been in accordance with Hungarian law.
