If he were speaking Russian instead of Hungarian, you would think you were listening to a speech by Vladimir Putin. But the inflammatory words were issuing from the lips of Hungary’s Prime Minister, Viktor Orban, reiterating his hard-line stance on what he calls a “shadow army” of political opponents and others allegedly working for foreign powers.

He compared his detractors to “insects [that have] survived for too long.” And he accused “politicians, judges, journalists, pseudo-NGOs and political activists [of taking] corrupt dollars” at the country’s expense, vowing to “eliminate the entire shadow army.” [Hanne Cokelaere, Politico, March 15, 2025.]

He also went on to reinforce his opposition to any further aid being given to the defense of Ukraine, or its consideration for entry into NATO or the EU:

“The rulers of Europe decided that Ukraine must continue the war at all costs, and it will get a fast EU membership in exchange, using our money. We can only have one answer to that: a Union but without Ukraine.” [Id.]

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Orban’s sharp right turn toward Russia has been obvious for some time. But, since the last election in Hungary that returned his Fidesz Party to power, opposition has been growing, led by the Tisza party, ironically headed by a former Orban ally, Peter Magyar. On Saturday, some 50,000 backers of Tisza rallied in the capital city of Budapest, where Magyar said he would release a popular survey on twelve key economic and political issues in order to hear the “voice of the nation.” [RFE/RL, March 15, 2025.]

Some hours after Orban’s speech about the so-called “shadow army” of oppositionists, Magyar told the crowd:

“Those who cheat on their own nation should end up in the dustbin of history. Our time has come.” [Id.]

Magyar’s Tisza Party has gained in the recent polls, running neck-and-neck with Orban’s Fidesz Party at about 40 percent each. But there is still a year before Hungary’s next general election, and anything can happen before then.

In the meantime, Orban remains in power, comfortably seated between two like-minded — and powerful — friends:

And don’t let those “wings” fool you — they’re not his.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
3/18/25