Henryk M. Broder, a columnist for the German newspaper Die Welt, recently discussed Viktor Orbán’s foreign policy and the Hungarian Prime Minister’s peace mission, as well as its impact on Europe in a podcast.
When asked why he recently referred to Viktor Orbán as the ‘winner of the day,’ Broder explained that the Hungarian Prime Minister recognized the years of flawed policies within the EU. According to Broder, Orbán observed that the EU had only offered rhetoric without influencing any conflicts around the globe, prompting him to
‘take the fate of Europe into his own hands.’
Broder emphasized that Orbán, as the elected Prime Minister of Hungary, represents a sovereign nation and largely pursues independent policies. Despite this, he has managed to achieve what other European leaders have not.
Using a historical analogy, the publicist remarked that Orbán’s actions in recent weeks ‘definitely follow the old k.u.k. spirit and tradition (Editor’s note: kaiserlich und königlich; a reference to the Austro–Hungarian Monarchy), [the empire] which was once a great power.’ He stated that although there is anger in Brussels and other European capitals, the prime minister is accountable only to the Hungarian people.
According to Broder, the reason Europe is ‘bitter’ about the Hungarian prime minister’s peace mission is that he has pointed out the lack of EU unity. Broder explained that the reason behind this is that the EU is not a confederation of states, but rather a group of sovereign states aspiring to be more than what it really is. He noted that the European Union has no constitution, no government, no parliament with strong legislative powers, and is essentially a ‘placebo’.
Broder continued with a strong criticism of the EU, stating that it is following in the tradition of the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (Comecon), the economic organization that existed under the Soviet Union. He compared the EU to Comecon, where the satellite states of the Soviet Union were directed by Moscow.
‘In the past, the orders always came from Moscow on what the satellite states should do; today, they come from Brussels.
Brussels is the new Moscow,’
he pointed out. In his opinion, Viktor Orbán is acting against this attitude, quite successfully.
You can watch the full podcast here:
Justifying the EU’s Nobel Peace Prize
Broder is not the only one who has praised Viktor Orbán recently in Germany. A member of the German Left Party (Die Linke) has defended the Hungarian PM’s peace mission in a Facebook post. Sevim Dağdelen pointed out that Viktor Orbán is effectively doing what the EU was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for in 2012—building lasting peace and strengthening democracy and human rights.
Dağdelen wrote: ‘The Hungarian Prime Minister is suggesting nothing more and nothing less than that the EU should launch a diplomatic initiative to end the war. As the Ukraine conflict begins, he is also re-establishing diplomatic contact with Russia.’ She continued: ‘Viktor Orbán may be politically criticized for many things, but certainly not for justifying the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to the EU in 2012.’
At the end of her post, the German MP stated: ‘Anyone like Ursula von der Leyen who refuses and sabotages peace should not be granted a second term as President of the European Commission.’
Read more on PM Orbán’s peace mission:
