Von der Leyen attacks Orbán’s support for Russia in fiery speech to European Parliament

In the past, the Parliament has criticized von der Leyen for being too soft when addressing rule of law and human rights issues in Hungary.

Her rebuttal of Orbán’s policies comes weeks before the team of 26 European commissioners will go before Parliament for their sign-off — and she needs MEPs’ support for her second term. In her most recent address, in unusually strong words, von der Leyen called out the Hungarian prime minister for cozying up to Putin.

At the start of Hungary’s six months at the helm of the presidency of the Council of the EU, Orbán went on self-declared “peace missions” to Kyiv, Moscow, Beijing and Washington, and claimed, without authorization, to be representing the EU.

After comments from the leaders of the Parliament’s political groups, a shocked Orbán was given a chance to respond, and said he “was surprised by what the president said.”

“I deliberately did not raise our differences, because as the Council presidency we are working on Europe’s behalf. It’s not right to talk about these differences of opinion when here we are talking about the presidency,” he said.

Péter Magyar, a former Fidesz insider who is now Orbán’s main opponent, also faced off with the prime minister during the debate. Magyar’s party, Tisza, is doing well in the polls.