Viktor Orbán Vows to Remain in Politics and Challenge EU on Migration

BRUSSELS — Former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán was in a defiant mood on his return to Brussels on Wednesday, insisting that he’s staying in politics and will continue to fight the EU on issues such as migration.

Speaking to a small group of reporters overlooking the European Commission’s Berlaymont headquarters, Orbán said his “goal has not changed” when it comes to the EU.

“We have to reform Brussels … It’s very difficult to find a way which provides success for Hungary if the European Union is not on the same track.”

Orbán lost April’s election, but he remains the leader of the Fidesz party. Fidesz MEPs are part of the Patriots for Europe group in the European Parliament, alongside those of France’s National Rally, led by Jordan Bardella.

“Our election defeat does not change the historically decisive fact that, in Europe, the patriotic political parties’ progress is continuing,” Orbán said, adding that the Patriots for Europe faction still has one representative in the European Council, Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš. “I am convinced this progress could only be stopped if the leadership of the EU could present some success.”

EU leaders will be in Brussels for a summit on Thursday and Friday.

Orbán left office in May, weeks after center-right opposition leader Péter Magyar won Hungary’s national election landslide, with his Tisza party gaining a two-thirds majority in parliament.

Magyar has vowed to reset relations with Brussels, unblocking Ukraine’s application for membership of the bloc and setting his sights on reclaiming up to €17 billion in funds frozen by Brussels over breaches of the rule of law under his predecessor. Tisza has also moved to introduce an eight-year term limit for prime ministers, to be applied retroactively, which would block Orbán from returning to office.

“I’m happy about that decision,” Orbán said, playing down his prospects of running again for Hungary’s top job. But he faces other potential headaches back home.

Earlier this month, Ferenc Pál Biró, the president of the Hungarian Integrity Authority, an anti-corruption watchdog, called for “high-level politicians” to face prosecution for allegedly defrauding European taxpayers of billions during the Orbán era. Biro has since been charged with embezzlement by prosecutors, allegations brought while the previous government was in office. He denies the charges.

Asked by POLITICO whether he was concerned about the risk of prosecution on corruption charges, Orbán rejected the idea that he or any of his ministers had pocketed taxpayers’ money, saying: “We haven’t seen things like that up until now.”