Speaking at the Bálványos Summer University this Saturday, former Prime Minister and Fidesz party leader Viktor Orbán declared that the time for mourning his party's April election loss has passed. After 16 years in government, Orbán stated that Fidesz must now move beyond self-reflection and adopt a strategy of "resistance politics" to defend what he described as Hungary’s under-threat freedom.
Orbán argued that the voters who supported change in the spring elections did so in good faith, expecting better economic performance and fewer errors from the government, rather than a betrayal of their trust. He leveled sharp criticism at the ruling Tisza party, accusing it of building an authoritarian system. He likened the current political environment in Hungary to Venezuela, characterizing it as a mixture of political arbitrariness, economic oppression, and communist-style thinking. Furthermore, Orbán alleged that there is an active effort to eliminate Fidesz entirely by pushing its leaders out of the political arena and employing illegitimate methods to dismantle any viable alternatives.
Beyond domestic politics, the former leader addressed the European Union, calling for a shift in power. He argued that if member states are to regain their independence and restore a proper balance of power, "patriots" must take over Brussels. Orbán specifically suggested that the European Commission should be scaled back and called for the abolition of the role of European Commission president, a position currently held by Ursula von der Leyen. "Brussels must be occupied by the Patriots," he stated. He concluded his address by thanking the Hungarian people for their continued wisdom and trust.
