Orbán’s Claims of EU Meddling in Polish Politics

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has made provocative allegations, suggesting that the Polish government, under Prime Minister Donald Tusk, was installed by the European Union as part of a broader scheme to displace the country’s prior right-wing populist leadership. This assertion follows Tusk’s election victory in 2023 during a remarkable election that witnessed a voter turnout of nearly 74%, setting a record high for the nation.

As he prepares for national elections in early 2026, Orbán drew parallels between what he perceives as Brussels’ interference in domestic affairs and the tactics employed by the former Soviet Union. In a radio interview on Friday, he stated, “They’re going to be working on this. They need a puppet government. Let’s speak plainly; every empire operates this way. The Soviets were like that, weren’t they?”

Orbán’s comments came just two days after he delivered a speech accusing the EU of plotting to undermine his self-styled illiberal nationalist government and install a puppet regime in Budapest. In the same interview, he specifically criticized EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and the president of the European People’s Party, Manfred Weber. Orbán claimed that their intentions mirror those they exhibited in Poland during the 2023 elections, where Tusk’s coalition triumphed over the governing Law and Justice party—a right-wing nationalist party that shares many ideologies with Orbán’s administration.

Orbán remarked, “It’s not even a secret conspiracy against Hungary; it is an openly represented, announced plan.” He provided no concrete evidence to support his claims but asserted, “The same thing happened in Poland. The Poles also chose their own path, pursuing an independent Polish policy on migration, gender, and the economy.” Furthermore, he accused von der Leyen and Weber of actively seeking the removal of the conservative Polish government to facilitate Tusk’s rise to power. “This is how our friend Tusk became prime minister in Poland. The same scenario is now unfolding in Hungary,” he concluded.

Frequent Clashes with Brussels

Orbán has a history of contentious interactions with the EU, which has withheld billions in financial aid from Hungary, citing alleged violations of rule-of-law and democratic standards. Similarly, Poland’s previous nationalist-conservative government experienced years of disputes with the EU over democratic backsliding.

In response to these tensions, Orbán has adopted an increasingly confrontational stance towards the EU—an entity Hungary joined in 2004. He has rallied eurosceptic parties across Europe to forge a far-right political coalition within the EU legislature. Additionally, Orbán has sought to strengthen Hungary’s ties with autocratic regimes such as Russia and China, pursuing foreign investments and loans from these nations as EU funding diminished due to his government’s actions.

Related

• Viktor Orbán splits the European Parliament with presidential speech
• Mass protests erupt against Orbán’s rule in Hungary

Tusk’s government is actively working to restore Poland’s democratic institutions, which he argues were eroded under the previous government that had close ties to Orbán. Nevertheless, Tusk has retained some conservative policies, including a stringent approach to illegal immigration.