Viktor Orban has unleashed a brutal attack against the EU as he compared the trading bloc to the Soviet Union.
During a speech to commemorate the anniversary of Hungary’s uprising against Soviet rule in 1956, the prime minister made a chilling comparison to the country’s current relationship with the EU.
With words that echoed his words from last year in which he suggested the bloc would end up like the Soviet Union, Orban made light of the new regime.
“Today, things pop up that remind us of the Soviet times,” Orban said.
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“Yes, it happens that history repeats itself.
“Fortunately, what once was tragedy is now a comedy at best.
“Brussels is not Moscow. Moscow was a tragedy. Brussels is just a bad contemporary parody.
“We had to dance to the tune that Moscow whistled, Brussels whistles too, but we dance as we want to, and if we don’t want to, then we don’t dance.”
However, Orban said he had faith in the bloc, adding: “Europe still lives and breathes, the life force still works in its body.”
Around €22billion (£19billion) in funds have been frozen since last December due to law concerns, but if relaxed, will increase Budapest’s budget significantly.
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Blocked over concerns about rule of law, the plan to unfreeze the funds is considered a bargaining chip by EU Commission leader Ursula von der Leyen in return for Hungary lifting its veto of the EU budget revision.
Budapest has made progress in recent months to fulfil rule of law milestones set by the bloc but during a press conference on Monday, MEPs from several major political parties told the Commission not to fall to Orban’s “extortion”.
Thawing the funds would mark a victory for Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who swore he would not agree to any increase in the EU budget until Hungary was able to access it again.
EU lawmakers have expressed doubts that thawing the funds would send a bad “signal” to other member states.
“In practice, as of right now, none of the milestones is fulfilled (…), it would be extremely detrimental to unfreeze this money”, Green MEP Daniel Freund said.
“Regrettably, the Hungarian government is not a good-faith actor. Guarantees must be ironclad, as there is a significant risk of them being abused,” Renew Europe MEP Katalin Cseh warned.
His comparison comes after the EU Parliament urged the Commission to not release the funds.
PA“Viktor Orban still seems to be under the impression that he can use the EU as a cash machine and now giving him access to funds again in exchange for limited and easily circumvented reforms would be the wrong signal”, socialist MEP Thijs Reuten added.
He continued: “As soon as these funds will be released, the Orban government will use every opportunity to reverse positive developments”.
Even if the Commission decides to unblock the funds, the Parliament could refuse the Commission and take the case to the EU Court of Justice.
By reversing the freeze, the Commission is hoping that Budapest will approve its increased budget to give aid to Ukraine, according to senior officials.
The EU Commission proposed a €66billion (£57.1billion) increase to the Union’s shared budget, which would include a €50billion (£43.3billion) support package for Kyiv.
“I can't imagine Hungary agreeing without there first being a solution to the blocked funds,” a senior EU official said.
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