According to Michael Ignatieff, a former Canadian politician and history professor at the Central European University, Orbán’s tactics in Hungary resemble previous election strategies. The Central European University, initially based in Budapest, was relocated to Vienna after being pushed out by Orbán. Ignatieff noted the risk of being ensnared by Orbán, who is fighting for his political career, and refrains from criticizing EU leaders for their recent stance. He highlighted Orbán’s pattern of opposing Brussels throughout the week and benefiting from it.
Orbán’s past campaigns depicted Hungary as threatened by external dangers, positioning himself as the defender against hostile forces. These adversaries have included influential financial figures, international and transnational bodies, leftist elites, and consistently the European Union. Orbán emphasized Hungary’s recognition of these threats, even when they are not in military garb but in business suits, especially when EU challenges arose over his constitutional reforms.
Meanwhile, American supporters of Orbán have actively rallied to support him, with reports suggesting that U.S. Vice President JD Vance might visit Budapest to aid Orbán’s election efforts. EU leaders, however, have taken a more cautious approach to avoid meddling allegations.
Despite dismissing the idea that Orbán trapped EU leaders, Fidesz MEP András László admitted the confrontation could bolster Orbán’s bid for a fifth term as prime minister. László pointed to Orbán’s steadfastness, which he claims is what citizens expect from politicians, asserting that it wasn’t the EU’s reaction that aided them, but Orbán’s resilience.
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