Viktor Orbán's attacks on the European Union are growing increasingly strident. The Hungarian prime minister is deploying the slogan 'Brussels wants war' in an effort to shift focus away from the country's real problems.
Communal hospitals are filthy, state school buildings are dilapidated, and roads are riddled with potholes—the signs of years of neglect are unmistakable in daily life. Rather than offering solutions, Orbán's propaganda machine paints a picture of a Hungary besieged by enemies. According to the government narrative, these foes sit on opposition benches in Budapest, in Kyiv, and above all in Brussels.
This bluster against the EU serves two masters: the Kremlin, which has an interest in a divided Europe, and Orbán himself. It acts as a distraction tactic as the European Union increasingly questions Hungary's democratic credentials. The European Parliament has already minced no words, effectively stripping the country of that status.
The current EU summit is once again revolving around Orbán—perhaps for the last time in this manner. The upcoming elections in Hungary will decide not only the country's future but also its place in Europe. Orbán's strategy of portraying Brussels as warmongers is a desperate attempt to control the narrative. It reveals just how much pressure the prime minister is under.
Behind the scenes, the EU is pursuing its own objectives. According to reports, European institutions are holding back on sharp condemnations to preserve diplomatic room for maneuver. The aim is to maintain influence even as the Union's core values come under attack.
For Hungarians, the election represents a directional choice: more confrontation with Brussels or a return to European standards. Orbán's vilification campaign is his last resort—a sign of weakness, not strength.
