Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has vowed to eliminate organizations funded by foreign groups, describing them as a ‘shadow army’ for the European Union and foreign powers. This announcement was made during a national holiday speech.
In a speech given on a national holiday commemorating Hungary’s 1848 revolution, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán addressed thousands of his supporters in Budapest. He announced a forthcoming crackdown on media outlets and organizations receiving foreign funding, labeling them part of a ‘global shadow army’ and comparing them to insects. ‘After today’s festive gathering comes the Easter cleaning. The bugs have overwintered,’ Orbán declared.
Orbán, who has been in power since 2010, has consistently used this March 15 commemoration as a platform to criticize the European Union. He accused the EU of functioning similarly to the Soviet Union, which once oppressed Hungary. He pledged that his government would dismantle what he described as a corrupt financial system, accusing international donors of influencing Hungarian politics and media.
The Hungarian leader also suggested that media outlets and civil groups receiving backing from sources like the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) were undermining Hungary’s sovereignty, although he offered no evidence for his claims. Orbán suggested that these organizations should expect legal ramifications as they are supposedly manipulating Hungary for liberal agendas.
Furthermore, Orbán’s right-wing government has recently proposed amendments to the Hungarian constitution that could affect dual citizens and the LGBTQ+ community. These proposals include suspending citizenship for those deemed threats to national security and banning the annual Budapest Pride event from public spaces.
In his speech, Orbán echoed the controversial ‘great replacement theory,’ stating that a ‘liberal American empire’ intends to dilute the influence of native Europeans by supporting immigration. He also alleged that foreign powers aim to ‘colonize’ Ukraine, a country currently supported by the EU in its defense against Russian aggression.
The Prime Minister’s opponents, including the emerging Tisza party, are capitalizing on this rhetoric by focusing on Hungary’s growing cost-of-living issues and alleged government corruption. The Tisza party’s leader, Péter Magyar, has positioned himself as a viable challenger to Orbán in the upcoming national elections, gaining substantial support by spotlighting these domestic concerns.
Orbán’s statements come as he and his party prepare for elections, with polls suggesting a competitive race between Fidesz and Tisza. This political backdrop adds layers to his speeches, marked by intense nationalism and anti-European sentiment.
Orbán’s latest speech signals an intensifying clash between his government and foreign-funded entities, underscoring a significant shift in Hungary’s political landscape.
