The vote of confidence arises from frustration over von der Leyen’s undisclosed communications with Pfizer’s CEO during the pandemic. In Strasbourg, she rejected the accusations, warning about “an alarming threat from extremist parties trying to polarize societies through disinformation.”
On Wednesday, Orbán described the vote as a pivotal moment for Europe.
“Tomorrow will be a turbulent day in the European Parliament,” he wrote. “The vote was scheduled due to the corruption scandals surrounding the President, but we all know corruption is just the tip of the iceberg. This is about competence, results, and the future of Europe,” he added.
Orbán’s critique came only a day after the Commission issued country-specific economic recommendations, urging Hungary to implement “permanent” fiscal measures to address a budget gap.
In response, the Hungarian government defended its economic approach. “Contrary to Brussels, the government prioritizes families, pensioners, and Hungarian companies, not multinationals,” stated Hungary’s economy ministry on Wednesday.
Budapest and Brussels have been in a prolonged clash, with the EU freezing billions of euros due to rule-of-law concerns. With less than a year until Hungary’s national election, Orbán has stepped up his campaign against the EU, particularly targeting von der Leyen and the bloc’s support for Ukraine.
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