Following Viktor Orbán’s visit to the European Parliament’s Plenary session on 9 October, Renew Europe reinforced its support for the Hungarian people, who want a strong, free and democratic Hungary at the heart of the EU. 

The Group will campaign for the opposite of Orbán’s dystopia: enhanced rights, individual freedom, economic opportunity and a stronger European Union that is able to stand on its own in the world and fight for liberal democratic solutions. 

An “Orbanisation” would lead the EU to be addicted to Russian oil and patrolled by Chinese police, with limited human rights, rampant state corruption, controls on journalism and economic decline. 

“Viktor Orbán’s dystopian vision for Europe is the road to unfreedom and a recipe for European decline. It is a Europe of dependency on foreign autocrats, economic mismanagement and reduced civil freedoms for all Europeans,” said Renew Europe President Valérie Hayer MEP. 

“He says he wants to stay in Europe, but young Hungarians are desperate to leave for a better life elsewhere in Europe. Mr. Orbán dreams of ‘occupying Brussels’, but if he did no one would want to live there. 

“The sad reality is that Orbán’s Hungary would not be given EU membership today. We repeat our call for the Member States to take the necessary steps to remove the voting rights of the Hungarian Government. Mr. Orbán’s government is a security threat to all Europeans.”