Get 40% Off
🤯 This Tech Portfolio is up 29% YTD! Join Now to Get April’s Top PicksGet The Picks – Just 99 USD

Hungary's Orban urges U.S. conservatives to join forces in 2024 elections

Published 08/04/2022, 05:02 PM
Updated 08/05/2022, 07:31 AM
© Reuters. Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orban speaks during the general session at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Dallas, Texas, U.S., August 4, 2022. REUTERS/Go Nakamura

© Reuters. Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orban speaks during the general session at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Dallas, Texas, U.S., August 4, 2022. REUTERS/Go Nakamura

BUDAPEST (Reuters) - U.S. and Hungarian conservatives must join forces in 2024 elections to "take back" institutions in Washington and Brussels from liberals who threaten western civilization, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Thursday.

Orban, a Hungarian nationalist who was addressing a conservative gathering in Dallas, also said the United States needs a strong leader to negotiate a peace deal for Russia to end the war in Ukraine, Hungary's neighbor.

"Only a strong leader can negotiate peace," Orban said, speaking to the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), a prominent U.S. political organization. "We need a strong America with a strong leader."

Orban didn't specifically refer to former U.S. President Donald Trump, who has hinted publicly that he will seek the presidency again in 2024. Trump has endorsed over 100 conservative candidates ahead of this year's mid-term U.S. elections.

But Orban and Trump had warm relations and the Hungarian leader endorsed Trump ahead of the 2020 U.S. vote. Before the CPAC conference, he wished Trump success in a video message.

As with Trump in the United States, Orban has been widely criticized in Europe. Leaders of the European Union, of which Hungary is a member, have said he has undermined democracy with measures that restrict immigration and give his government control over the media and non-governmental organizations.

Orban, who was re-elected for a fourth consecutive term in April, said the stakes are high for 2024. In addition to the U.S. election, Europeans will vote on European Parliament seats that year.

"These two locations will define the two fronts in the battle for western civilization," Orban said.

Calling himself "an old fashioned freedom fighter," Orban said Hungary and his government were "under the siege of progressive liberals."

He said progressives seek to separate western civilization from its Christian roots. His government's fierce anti-immigration stance, pro-family policies and rejection of gender ideology resist those efforts, he added.

"This war is a culture war," Orban said. "We have to revitalize our churches, our families, our universities and our community institutions."

In a speech last month, Orban said that in contrast to Western Europe, where locals mixed with non-European immigrants, Hungary was not a "mixed-race" country. His words drew condemnation from the United States, the European Union, Jewish groups and academics.

A few days later Orban backtracked, saying sometimes he said things in a way "that can be misunderstood."

© Reuters. Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orban speaks during the general session at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Dallas, Texas, U.S., August 4, 2022. REUTERS/Go Nakamura

He told CPAC that those who accused him or his government of racism were "idiots." He said his government had adopted a "zero tolerance" policy on racism and antisemitism.

"Accusing us is fake news," he added.

Latest comments

"In a speech last month, Orban said that in contrast to Western Europe, where locals mixed with non-European immigrants, Hungary was not a "mixed-race" country."  -- Hungary has been invaded by like a dozen countries in the last 200 years, only in his fantasy that the current hungarian people is a pure race
He fit right in with the shrinking reich-wing knuckle draggers at CPAC.
the radical republicans had to import a radical racist from eastern europe. what about all the racists in america, you couldn't find them lol, no mirrors?
I know, whatever happened to America First?
Russia is a little preoccupied this time around, so the GOP went looking to a different foreign dictator for help this time.
Make him speak less one of putins friends for money what a fool
We need a independent America that does not tow the Russian narrative of authoritarianism like Orban does.
No kidding! What about that do Traitor Trump and his sycophants not understand? It's as if America First is some kind of camouflage for their real beliefs.
**** ***, Hungarian authoritarian dog. America does not take kindly to foreign interference in our elections, despite what your cuddle buddy Trump may have told you.
**** off, Hungarian authoritarian dog. America does not take kindly to foreign interference in our elections, despite what your cuddle buddy Trump may have told you
Well both sides love Russians
Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.