Hungarian Premier Criticizes EU and Plans to Occupy Brussels
Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban has once again criticized the European Union and the "western world" in general, urging his supporters to help him "occupy Brussels" during the upcoming European Parliament elections planned for the summer. He made these remarks during a speech commemorating the anniversary of Hungary's unsuccessful 1848 revolution against Habsburg rule, as reported by AP.
During his speech, Orban compared the EU to imperial occupiers and condemned the "western world" as a source of cultural decay and destruction.
"They start wars, destroy worlds, redraw borders of countries, and devour everything like locusts... We, Hungarians, live differently and want to live differently," Orban said, addressing the crowd, many of whom were reportedly bussed into Budapest.
The leader of the Hungarian government regularly criticizes the EU for its immigration policies and treatment of LGBT rights, advocating for national pride and sovereignty. Orban emphasizes that "Brussels is not the first empire trying to subjugate Hungary."
"People in Europe today fear that Brussels will take away their freedom. If we want to preserve the freedom and sovereignty of Hungary, we have no choice: we must occupy Brussels," he said.
It is worth noting that Hungary will assume the EU Council presidency for six months in July.
In a previous interview with local media, Orban noted that Hungary's presidency of the EU Council will focus on strengthening peace, with the goal of "conquering Brussels."
"My strategy is not for us to separate from Brussels, but to enter it, promoting our ideals, values, and program and convincing other countries of the correctness of this course," he remarked.
The Gaze publication previously reported that Hungary's parliament voted to appoint Tamas Sulik, the head of the country's Constitutional Court, as the new president.
The 67-year-old lawyer became the seventh head of state of democratic Hungary. Tamas Sulik was the only candidate for the presidency, proposed by the Fidesz party of pro-Russian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. 134 Hungarian parliamentarians voted for Tamas Sulik, while five were against.
An important detail is that Tamas Sulik was elected president of the republic in record short terms. The last time a similar situation occurred was over ten years ago when the incumbent president of the republic (then Pal Schmitt) could not fulfil his mandate. He resigned on April 2, 2012, and a month later, parliament elected his successor, Janos Ader.