For years, Viktor Orbán has played the European Union like a fiddle. He has blocked sanctions, undermined democratic norms, and flirted openly with Vladimir Putin — all while collecting billions in EU funds. But now, with war on Europe’s doorstep and the stakes higher than ever, Brussels appears to have finally had enough.
The Hungarian prime minister has long been a thorn in the EU’s side. Yet until recently, most of the damage he inflicted– from judicial rollbacks to attacks on press freedom– was viewed as containable. No longer. The extension of Russia’s war on Ukraine has pushed Orbán from irritant to existential threat.
Orbán sides with Putin, Trump over EU
For senior EU officials, the war is a defining moment. They argue that if Russian President Vladimir Putin is allowed to succeed in Ukraine, the consequences will extend far beyond Kyiv.
With Donald Trump back in the White House, the threat is even greater. European leaders like France’s Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer hope to contain Putin with American partnership. But in truth, Europe is increasingly on its own.
Content retrieved from: https://www.firstpost.com/world/the-eu-is-done-with-viktor-orban-it-cant-bear-him-anymore-13876018.html.
