Co-chair and chancellor candidate for Germany’s right-wing, anti-immigration party Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) Alice Weidel visited Budapest on Wednesday at the invitation of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. AfD, currently the second-largest party in one of the European Union’s most influential member states, is facing a pivotal early election on 23 February. The visit marks a historic moment for AfD, as Orbán is the first foreign leader to officially welcome one of its chair.

Hungary Needs a Strong Germany

Following their meeting, which focused primarily on migration, Orbán made it clear that he views AfD as the future of Germany. He argued that when a ruling elite goes against its electorate, it is inevitable that the people will support the party that truly represents their interests.

Addressing migration, the Hungarian prime minister harshly criticized both the current and former German leadership, accusing them of nearly ‘destroying Hungary’ by pushing an open-border policy, advocating inclusion for all migrants—including illegal ones—and using their influence to impose these policies on other EU member states.

‘Orbán made it clear that he views AfD as the future of Germany’

‘With all due respect to Germany, Hungary has endured difficult years under enormous German pressure to allow migrants in,’ Orbán said. Turning to Weidel, he emphasized that there are currently zero illegal migrants in Hungary. ‘Imagine a Germany without a single immigrant,’ he told the AfD co-chair. The Hungarian prime minister also made it clear that there will be no leniency on migration issues, stating that crossing the country’s borders without permission is a criminal offense, and anyone who does so will be expelled.

Regarding the European Migration Pact, Orbán bluntly dismissed any hope for reform, even with a growing number of member states opposing it. ‘The only solution is revolution,’ he declared, adding that he is eagerly awaiting Germany to revolt against the migration pact and stand with Hungary.

Weidel expressed gratitude to Hungary for its fight against illegal migration and condemned the EU for punishing Budapest for its efforts. The AfD chancellor candidate added that illegal migration is undermining the Schengen Zone, forcing member states to reintroduce border checks within the EU. She stressed that if AfD comes to power, Germany would leave the European asylum system.

Heading Towards Pivotal Elections

Germany’s election campaign is clearly dominated by the issue of migration. The country faces an immense security threat from within, with attacks committed by migrants or migration-related individuals resulting in the loss of German lives becoming increasingly frequent. The latest horrific incident occurred in January when an Afghan migrant—who had already been slated for deportation—killed two people, including a two-year-old child, in Aschaffenburg, stabbing them to death. This knife attack happened just a month after the Magdeburg Christmas market attack, carried out by a Saudi national, which left six dead, including children, and injured 200 more.

For a long time, AfD was the only party in Germany offering real solutions against mass migration, including the relocation of migrants. However, following the recent attacks, the country’s largest party, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), led by Friedrich Merz, has attempted to capitalize on the security crisis—despite it being largely a consequence of the party’s policies under former chancellor Angela Merkel. In an effort to appear tougher on migration, the CDU proposed stricter migration rules, which passed in the Bundestag with AfD’s support. With that, AfD finally broke through the ‘firewall’ imposed by mainstream parties that had politically quarantined it from federal politics. That moment marked Orbán’s decision to invite AfD’s Weidel to Hungary.

According to a Washington-based Democracy Institute poll published two weeks ago, AfD is closing the gap with CDU, standing at 25 per cent, just two percentage points behind the largest party. Weidel is also proving highly popular among the electorate, leading Merz by nine points in the race for the chancellery, with support from 35 per cent of voters. Another poll, conducted by German pollster Forsa and published on 4 February, places AfD at 20 per cent, trailing CDU by eight points.

The Symbol of Sovereignty and Independence

During the press conference, Weidel expressed her admiration for how proud Hungarians are of their national identity and culture—something that has long disappeared in Germany. ‘I want a proud Germany,’ she declared. She added that Hungary and Orbán are symbols of independence and sovereignty for her party. The German politician thanked Orbán for his policy of common sense and his fight for the freedom of European nations, expressing her enthusiasm for following his example.

Despite their shared views on many key issues facing Europe, Hungarian government officials, including Orbán, have previously been cautious in their relations with AfD. According to the Hungarian prime minister, the main obstacle was Hungary’s strategic interest in maintaining good relations with the respective German government. Hungary’s economy is deeply intertwined with Germany’s, particularly in the automotive sector, meaning that openly building ties with AfD could have risked economic retaliation from Germany’s political mainstream.

‘Hungary and Orbán are symbols of independence and sovereignty’

However, this dynamic is clearly shifting. With AfD now representing at least 20 per cent of the German electorate, it can no longer be ignored—especially as its standing is further amplified by Donald Trump’s re-election and Elon Musk’s repeated endorsements of the party.

At the end of the press conference, Orbán emphasized that he is not trying to interfere in German politics. However, he expressed hope that after 23 February, Germany will have a government whose economic policies serve both Hungarian and German interests while also advocating for ‘fair treatment’ across the European Union.

Drowning in Liberal Tears

Weidel’s visit to Hungary sparked significant backlash from progressive circles. Green German MEP Daniel Freund, a frequent critic of the Hungarian government, addressed the issue in several posts on X, referring to Weidel as the ‘chairwoman of the German Nazi Party’. Freund also speculated on whether Orbán would invite AfD to join Patriots for Europe, the European Parliament’s third-largest group—a scenario that did not materialize.

Meanwhile, Hungarian liberal MP Ákos Hadházy staged a protest outside the Carmelite Monastery during the meeting. Speaking to the progressive opposition outlet and frequent US funding recipient 444, Hadházy drew a parallel between today’s populist leaders and fascists of World War II, claiming that their ‘methods’ are the same. Holding signs written in German, he declared: ‘Populists are the fascists of democracy’ and ‘We know you, we know your tactics.’

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