Brussels demands explanations from Orbán over accusations of 'spying' on the EU for Putin

BrusselsViktor Orbán's government continues toaccumulate controversies against the European Union in the midst of the pre-election campaign. Brussels has asked Budapest for explanations regarding the information published by the American newspaper. The Washington PostThe report claims that the Hungarian government is instantly relaying information about high-level meetings held at European institutions to Moscow. "This is very worrying. Trust and relations between member states and institutions are fundamental to the work of the European Union, and we expect the Hungarian government to provide us with clarification," said Anitta Hipper, spokesperson for the European Commission, at a press conference.

The European Commission was not the only body to react to the news reports published this weekend. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said it was "no surprise to anyone" and asserted that he had had "suspicions" for "a long time." "That is why I only speak [at leaders' meetings] when strictly necessary and say only what is necessary," added the former President of the European Council, who is one of the most vocal critics of Vladimir Putin's regime.

Specifically, the American newspaper explains that Hungary's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Péter Szijjártó, was passing information to his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, about the closed-door meetings held by member states in Brussels. Among other things, the Hungarian representative was informing Moscow about the latest discussions among European partners regarding the implementation of new sanctions against Russia or the expansion of aid to Ukraine.

Hungary is currently blocking the approval of the twentieth EU sanctions package against Russia and the disbursement of a €90 billion European microloan to Kyiv. Orbán, who has made animosity towards Kyiv and Brussels his main electoral battle critique, demanded that Ukraine and the EU repair the Druzhba oil pipeline, which connects Hungary to Russia and was destroyed by the Russian army. Although the European bloc has offered to finance the reconstruction of the infrastructure, Budapest refuses to lift its veto and is keeping both initiatives stalled.

The far right is closing ranks with Orbán

The Hungarian general elections of April 12 are fast approaching, and polls predict an electoral defeat for Orbán, benefiting the leader of the opposition, the conservative Péter Magyar. Faced with these bleak prospects, the European far right and the administration of Donald Trump are supporting the current Hungarian prime minister. This Monday, the far-right European party Patriots for Europe, chaired by Santiago Abascal (Vox), held a major summit in Budapest. Besides the Spanish leader, leaders from across Europe attended, including France's Marine Le Pen and Italy's Matteo Salvini, among others. The European far-right leaders have fully embraced Orbán's positions and, in general, have harshly criticized Brussels and EU regulations, especially Abascal. "We don't want their climate fanaticism, which ruins our industries and our families. [...] These are not just their elections, but ours as well," said the Vox leader, who described the Hungarian prime minister as "the true protector of Europe." Abascal has even defended him against all the controversies surrounding him, asserting that it is "a conspiracy against him." Le Pen and Salvini have echoed this sentiment, as have the Dutch Prime Minister Geert Wilders and the Czech Prime Minister, the also pro-Russian Andrej Babiš. The Italian Deputy Prime Minister stated that "the elections are about preserving self-determination and maintaining a millennia-old Christian identity," while Le Pen, in turn, praised the Hungarian Prime Minister, calling him an "exceptional leader." "He has made Hungary a symbol of European pride and of the sovereignty and resistance of its people against oppression," she said.