The former Hungarian Prime Minister will attend a Brussels meeting next week for the first time since his April electoral defeat, joining the far-right Patriots for Europe conference.
Viktor Orbán, the ex-Prime Minister of Hungary, is set to revisit Brussels next week following his loss at the polls, taking part in a summit with Patriots for Europe leaders — the far-right coalition he was instrumental in founding.
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According to his spokesperson Bertalan Havasi who spoke to Euronews, Orbán will join other Patriots heads, including Czechia’s Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, on 17 June for the group’s customary assembly just before the European Council meeting scheduled for 18-19 June.
Representing Hungary at the summit will be its newly appointed Prime Minister Péter Magyar, marking the first occasion in nearly twenty years that the country takes part without Orbán’s presence.
Magyar’s Tisza Party achieved a sweeping victory in April, ending Orbán’s 16-year tenure. Magyar’s core campaign focused on combating corruption and seeking to restore Hungary’s relationship with the European Union. He also committed to dismantling Orbán’s political network.
Following his defeat, Orbán has largely stepped back from the public eye and has been notably inactive on social media platforms. He has chosen not to occupy his seat in Parliament but remains chairman of the Fidesz party. Orbán has pledged to spearhead a party renewal throughout the coming year.
This electoral loss sparked internal criticism within Fidesz, with certain members questioning both Orbán’s leadership and the campaign strategy centered heavily on the conflict in Ukraine.
While in power, Orbán was often a point of friction within the European Union. He frequently obstructed EU aid packages for Ukraine and maintained close relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Furthermore, the European Commission froze parts of Hungary’s EU funding, citing issues related to corruption and the rule of law.
Since Magyar assumed office, his administration has engaged in intensive negotiations with the European Commission to release the frozen funds. As a result of a political agreement reached in late May, Hungary regained access to €16.4 billion out of the €17 billion originally withheld.
Additionally, Magyar reversed Orbán’s policy of using veto power in the EU, enabling Ukraine to initiate accession talks after Hungary secured a bilateral agreement with Kyiv concerning the rights of Hungarian minorities residing in Ukraine.
Established in 2024 by Orbán, the Patriots for Europe alliance is now the third-largest political faction in Parliament. During his forthcoming trip to Brussels, the former Prime Minister will hold a press conference.