With the defeat of Law and Justice in Poland, Prime Minister Viktor Orban of Hungary finds himself without a key illiberal ally in Europe. Having previously placed his bets on a swift Russian victory in Ukraine and diverged from European values, Orban is now confronted with an impossible dilemma. On one hand, he requires EU funds to sustain his government, while on the other, the EU insists on reforms that threaten to undermine his administration. Zsuzsanna Vegh, a visiting fellow at the German Marshall Fund, sheds light on Orban's ominous impact on civil society, noting his ability to "engineer public opinion" to his advantage.
Hungary's Prime Minister, Viktor Orban, faces a formidable challenge as he navigates a complex situation he created. His reliance on European funds to sustain his political influence clashes with the EU's insistence on reforms that pose a direct threat to his government's stability. Compounding this, Orban's pro-Russian stances have eroded trust among his Western partners.
The recent removal of Law and Justice from power in Poland further complicates Orban's situation. Zsuzsanna Vegh, a visiting fellow at the German Marshall Fund, describes the evolving situation. Hungary's government increasingly resorts to illiberal and authoritarian methods to consolidate power. This includes the potential cracking down on civil society organizations and manipulating public opinion through media control.
A project Protecting European Values. The podcast was co-funded by the European Commission.