Page 36 - RusRPTAug24

36 I Central Europe bne August 2024
Viktor Orban (left) with Italian premier Georgia Meloni during his pre-presidential tour. / bne IntelliNews
Hungary vows to use its EU presidency to "Make Europe Great Again"
had been made to split up the jobs between the top three EP factions, much to the dislike of the Hungarian premier. Hungary’s illiberal leader called the deal by the three leading factions shameful. The EPP, the socialists, and the liberals had formed a coalition, "of lies and deception" to name the next leaders of EU institutions, he said.
He has also been in a longstanding conflict with the European Parliament, which opened Article 7 procedure in 2018 against Hungary for its breaches of the EU's rule of law values. The EP had even attempted to block Hungary from taking up the rotating presidency on the grounds that it was unfit to hold the role.
There is a fear, however, that at the helm of the European Council, Hungary could slow down accession talks with Ukraine and the ongoing Article 7 procedure against his own country, but according to diplomats, his room for maneuver will be limited.
Orban also received a sobering message ahead of assuming the presidency from Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo. "The presidency does not mean you are the boss of Europe but that
you are the one who has to make a compromise. That it is an interesting position to be in at least once in your lifetime, so I can recommend it to Mr. Orban," he said at his farewell press conference on June 28.
The political constellations are also unfavourable for the 60-year-old veteran, who is taking on the baton from Belgium
Tamas Csonka in Budapest
Hungary assumed the rotating EU presidency on July 1 under the controversial slogan "Make Europe Great Again", echoing Donald Trump’s campaign slogan, but has promised to be an honest broker and ready for compromise, something that Prime Minister Viktor Orban's government has not been famous for over the last 14 years.
Hungary’s radical right-wing strongman has big plans for the six-month EU presidency, even though it falls into
a transitional period following the European Parliament elections, which means that much of the next six months will be taken up with installing a new European Parliament and Commission.
Analysts note the presidency could serve Orban as a PR tool to portray himself
at home as an influential leader, but
at an EU level his reputation has been irretrievably tainted by the way he has torpedoed common EU policy with his blackmailing tactics in the past few
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years, notably over Ukraine and Russia. Hungary’s leader is often accused of being the Trojan horse of Vladimir Putin for fostering strong political and economic relations with the Russian president despite the war.
Orban was also the only leader to vote against an extension of Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's mandate, something which is unlikely to endear
“Orban was also the only leader to vote against an extension of Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's mandate, something which is unlikely to endear him to the EU's most powerful executive”
him to the EU's most powerful executive. The composition of the European Commission will not be influenced by the Hungarian presidency as the decision
after a string of setbacks at home and on the international stage. He campaigned with the slogan of "capturing" Brussels, referring to a potential breakthrough