A German MEP has dubbed Viktor Orban the “useful idiot of Russia and China”, slamming him for allowing “spies into the Schengen zone”.
In a speech to the European Parliament who were gathered in Strasbourg, France, Mortiz Koerner directly addressed the Hungarian Prime Minister, who is currently holding the EU’s six-month rotating presidency.
Orban came under fire for his policies both at home and abroad, and was criticised for his relationship with Russia and China.
Koerner, who has served as an MEP since 2019, said to Orban: “You want democracy and you brag about your majorities in the Hungarian parliament, yet for years you only ruled by emergency decrees. Are you so afraid Mr Obran?
German MEP brutally slams Viktor Orban as 'useful idiot of Russia and China' for allowing 'spies into Schengen zone'Reuters“You say you are for national sovereignty yet you invite Chinese policemen to survey the people in your country. You say you want to stop migration yet you let Russian spies into our Schengen system and call it a national card.
“That is what you are doing. Mr Obran, you are not a patriot, you are just a useful idiot of Russia and China, that’s the reality.”
Orban has repeatedly clashed with European countries over concerns that he has undermined democratic practices in Hungary, and focused instead on forging close relationships with Russia and China outside of EU policy.
In July, Orban was embroiled in controversy when he travelled, in what the Hungarian government described as a “peace mission”, to Moscow and Beijing without coordinating with any EU members.
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Orban leaves a plenary session at the European Parliament
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Koerner continued: “You say you want to fight for more economic competitiveness, yet you keep introducing new company laws and taxes to drive European competitors. You turned Hungary into a banana republic, you robbed your population and enriched your family and friends.
“Under your rule, Hungary has become one of the poorest and officially the most corrupt country in the EU. What a fraud, what a burden for your people. Please step down to make Hungary great again.”
Hungary took up the Council of the EU presidency in July with the slogan “Make Europe Great Again”, a clear nod to Donald Trump’s mantra - who the Hungarian PM has publicly backed.
That same month, he went to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort. The former US President has called Orban “one of the most respected men”.
Koerner later said that Orban should not have been made EU President, stating that he was “destroying the rule of law and European values in [his] country”.
“You should not make the school bully the school director and that is what we have done in the EU.
Hungary took up the Council of the EU presidency in July
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Ursula von der Leyen slammed Budapest for its lack of support towards Ukraine
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“There should not be a council presidency when a member state is violating our fundamental principles.”
Koerner was one of many MEPs who took charge against Orban, with President Ursula von der Leyen slamming Budapest for its stalling of EU support for Ukraine.
“The world has witnessed the atrocities of Russia’s war. And yet, there are still some who blame this war not on the invader but the invaded,” she said.
“There are still some who blame this war not on [Russian President Vladimir] Putin’s lust for power but on Ukraine’s thirst for freedom.”
Green co-leader Terry Reintke also jumped aboard the hate train, declaring: “You are not welcome here, this is the house of European democracy.”
Prior to the backlash, Orban gave a speech to MEPs in Strasbourg, where he said that EU policy needed an overhaul.
He said that if the EU failed to control the entrance of migrants, then the Schengen system would “fall apart”.
Orban also said that there was no way Ukraine could win the war and EU leaders should be involved in negotiations to bring an end to the fighting.
