Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán Calls for Immediate Change in Europe

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán issued a stark warning to the European Union on September 22, 2025, declaring that the bloc faces inevitable decline unless it undertakes an immediate and radical shift in its policies. Speaking at the opening of Hungary’s autumn parliamentary session, Orbán compared the EU’s current trajectory to the fall of the Roman Empire, arguing that ineffective policies on migration, climate, sanctions, and the green transition have left the Union unable to deliver economic success for its member states. He asserted, “If the Union does not carry out an urgent and sharp turn, its story will come to an end.”

Orbán’s Critique of EU Policy and Leadership

Orbán’s speech was marked by fierce criticism of Brussels and Western European leaders, whom he described as “headless chickens” dragging Europe toward war by funding Ukraine and pushing for Kyiv’s EU membership. He dismissed the EU as a “sinking ship” and vowed that Hungary would never accept migrants, higher taxes, or the transfer of Hungarian money to Ukraine. Orbán reaffirmed Hungary’s nationalist stance, pledging to reject Brussels’ “botched recipes” and keep his country out of the Ukraine conflict. He argued that Hungary “has given no one a mandate to wage war on its behalf” and sees diplomacy as the only solution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Orbán also reiterated Hungary’s opposition to the EU’s migration pact, which Brussels aims to implement in 2027. He claimed Hungary would not comply and highlighted the financial sanctions imposed on his country for its refusal, stating, “Hungary is fined 1 million euros each day. Shame on Brussels.” He contrasted Hungary’s situation with Western European countries, which he said suffer from “bombings, shootings, and riots” linked to migration, while Hungary “remains an island of peace.”

Geopolitical Shifts and Domestic Initiatives

Reviewing international developments, Orbán noted that the United States is reshaping the global trade order, while China and India are strengthening cooperation with Russia. He described the EU as weaker than expected and criticized its inability to adapt to these changes, claiming the bloc had “removed itself from the narrow circle of global powers.” Orbán warned that Ukraine’s accession to the EU would bring “the war’s bloody reality into the EU,” leading to economic collapse, disruption of the European agricultural system, and the diversion of EU development funds. He cited a national consultation in which more than 2 million Hungarian voters expressed opposition to Ukraine’s membership.

On the domestic front, Orbán highlighted the launch of the “Home Start” housing program on September 1, which aims to broaden the middle class and support the construction of 50,000 homes within five years. He also cited supplementary pension payments and measures to shield families from inflation, as well as an action plan to support small and medium-sized firms and protect jobs. Orbán stressed recent progress in higher education as part of his government’s efforts to strengthen Hungary’s economic and social stability.

EU Response and Broader Implications

Orbán’s confrontational stance has intensified tensions within the EU, where he has blocked military assistance to Ukraine, tried to dilute sanctions against Russia, and objected to the beginning of accession talks with Ukraine. The European Council has begun to adopt meeting conclusions on Ukraine as statements on behalf of twenty-six rather than twenty-seven member states, effectively circumventing Hungary’s veto. Some member states advocate tackling Hungary’s obstructionism more directly, including the possible activation of the EU’s Article 7 procedure, which could suspend Hungary’s voting rights if it is found to be in breach of EU values. However, the high thresholds for such action make it unlikely to succeed in the near term.

Orbán’s speech comes as Hungary prepares for general elections in spring 2026, with opposition parties gaining ground amid economic challenges and blocked EU assistance. His call for immediate change in Europe reflects both domestic political pressures and broader ideological battles over the future of the EU, as radical-right parties across the continent push for a looser union based on national sovereignty and conservative values. The outcome of these debates will shape the direction of European integration and the balance of power within the bloc in the years ahead.