Viktor Orban has threatened to “march on Brussels” and “occupy” the European Union’s political centre as he fights to defend Hungary’s sovereignty.
Speaking to about 1,000 supporters at a rally in Budapest to celebrate the country’s national day, the Hungarian Prime Minister claimed to have “no choice” but to march on the EU capital.
Orban has long been at odds with other EU members over a range of issues, including refusing to send weapons to Kyiv and keeping up economic ties with Moscow since Russian forces invaded Ukraine in 2022.
“If we want to defend Hungary's freedom and sovereignty, we have no other choice but to occupy Brussels,” Orban said.
Viktor Orban threatens to 'march on Brussels'Reuters
Viktor Orban was speaking at a rally in Budapest to celebrate the country’s national day,
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“We will march to Brussels and bring the change to the European Union ourselves.”
He added that EU actions were hitting farmers, hurting the middle class, damaging companies, “and on top of all that, (taking) Europe into war”.
“We will not accept that Brussels left Europeans alone, moreover, it turned against them,” Orban said.
His outburst comes as he prepares to take over the EU's rotating presidency for the second half of the year.
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'We will march to Brussels and bring the change to the European Union ourselves,' Orban said
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Orban sings with an opera artist during Hungary's National Day celebrations
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Budapest has also been locked in long disputes that have blocked EU funds.
Earlier this week, European Parliament lawmakers said the body would sue the EU executive for unblocking some funds to Hungary while trying to persuade the country to drop its veto on aid to Ukraine last year.
The speech today also comes just a few days after the Hungarian leader met with former US president Donald Trump.
Orban openly supported Trump's bid to return to the White House and praised him as the only presidential election candidate who could end the war in Ukraine.
Rally gathers for Hungary's national day
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Hungary's national day commemorates the 1848 Hungarian Revolution against the Habsburg monarchy
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However, after their meeting, President Joe Biden said during a campaign stop that Orban “stated flatly he doesn't think democracy works and is looking for dictatorship”.
Hungary's foreign minister Peter Szijjarto called Biden's statement a lie and a “very serious insult”.
“This way of thinking by the president and the Democratic administration is a heavy burden on our bilateral relationship.”