In his final annual review before the elections, the Hungarian Prime Minister vowed to act against the ‘Brussels agents.’ He highlighted his party’s successes and accused his political rivals of aspiring to be the viceroys not only of Brussels but also of multinational corporations.
«The 21st century will become the century of Europe’s humiliation,» the Hungarian Prime Minister declared at his customary yearly assessment speech at Várkert Bazár, following his opening remarks. Orbán noted that for the first time since the steam engine’s invention, Europe is excluded from global transformation, but Hungary still has a good chance to emerge positively.
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«Only half the job was done in removing Brussels agents»
Referring to his previous year’s address, where he predicted that the Hungarian government, aligned with Donald Trump, would occupy the «main road of history» while their opponents «wander the muddy side roads,» Orbán said everything had materialized as forecasted.
He claimed that the US president had led a revolution against the former liberal elites, with Hungary joining forces, which is why he stated a year ago that NGOs, opposition media, and judges labelled ‘bugged’ by Orbán and declared foreign agents by the government would be removed from Hungary.
«That was the objective, but I must acknowledge we only completed half the task: the repressive Brussels apparatus remains operational in Hungary, and we will eradicate it following the April elections. Disguised civil organizations, purchased journalists, judges, politicians, algorithms, bureaucrats, and flowing Euro-millions—that is what Brussels now represents in Hungary.»
He omitted mentioning from last year’s speech his promise of economic recovery and notable growth—the so-called «flight to recovery»—which resulted in only 0.3% growth in 2025, or that despite his pledge to ban ‘Pride Day,’ hundreds of thousands gathered in Budapest to celebrate, despite the prohibition.
Nevertheless, Orbán underscored welfare policies introduced just before the 2026 elections and those planned ahead. He stated that these initiatives will be funded by special taxes on large corporations.
Orbán introduced the term ‘Putining’
«It is essential to accept that those who cherish freedom should fear Brussels more than the East, directing their wary attention primarily towards Brussels,» emphasized the Hungarian Prime Minister.
«Putining is a crude and trivial concept,» Orbán elaborated, referring to the Western tactic of portraying Russia and Putin as a threat. «Brussels, however, is a concrete reality and a direct menace,» he added.
The Prime Minister derived this conclusion from a US report claiming that the European Commission pressured social media companies to censor content, including during European Parliament elections in Romania and Moldova.
Orbán asserted that America’s friendship deserves recognition because, in his view, the United States is currently exposing the European Commission’s «censorship».
The rival has been bought not only by Brussels but also by global corporations
The Prime Minister stated that domestic opponents in Hungary act as puppets, but not solely under Brussels’ influence.
After the Tisza Party unveiled several leading experts potentially significant for a future Tisza government, Viktor Orbán referenced their former employers in his speech.
«One of the main beneficiaries of the war is Shell,» Orbán remarked concerning István Kapitány, the Tisza Party’s candidate for economic leadership. He added that Shell earned tens of billions of dollars from the conflict, with an agenda to isolate Hungary from Russian oil.
Indeed, such a sanctions policy was implemented by Donald Trump’s administration, granting Hungary a one-year exemption. Additionally, the largest beneficiaries of the Russia-Ukraine war are the Hungarian national oil company MOL, which gained substantial profits by purchasing discounted Russian oil, currently exempt from EU and US sanctions.
The Hungarian Prime Minister also mentioned ERSTE Bank, where another Tisza economist, András Kármán, worked. Orbán asserted ERSTE aims to install its representative in the Tisza government to abolish special banking taxes. Kármán previously served as state secretary during Orbán’s second government from 2010 to 2014.
Orbán asserts that Europe is preparing for war
«Europe has resolved to enter a state of war by 2030. This will be the last election before war,» the Hungarian Prime Minister declared. «Brussels has committed to defeating the Russians in Ukraine, and across Europe, outside Hungary, preparations for war are underway.»
Orbán added that Europe is arming itself and instructing its citizens on wartime conduct, while simultaneously providing Ukraine with extensive financial credit.
«Ukraine is consuming enormous sums,» said Orbán. «Nobody can solve how to defeat a nuclear power without resorting to nuclear weapons.»
He emphasized that Hungary will neither send money nor arms to Ukraine, nor will Hungarian youth be deployed there, despite NATO’s charter not obliging members to engage militarily in conflicts.