During the summit in Brussels, European Union leaders sharply criticized Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. However, this criticism may unexpectedly boost his popularity ahead of the parliamentary elections.
According to Politico, some European politicians and experts believe that harsh statements from the EU could strengthen Orbán’s position in Hungary. This allows him to position himself as the only politician capable of “defending the interests of Hungarians”—a message he actively uses in his election campaigns.
Criticism that plays into Orbán’s hands
French MEP Chloé Ridel believes that Brussels should have avoided an open conflict with Budapest ahead of the elections. In her view, Orbán is not performing strongly in opinion polls and is trying to mobilize the electorate. Therefore, public confrontation from the EU only helps him rally his supporters and convince those who are undecided.
Orbán’s Election Strategy
“Orbán isn’t doing very well in the polls. And, obviously, he’s doing everything he can to fight to the end, and they should have avoided confrontation over the Ukrainian loan, postponed the clash, and prevented him from getting what he clearly wanted,” Riedel noted.
