Clash between von der Leyen and Orbán

Dnevnik does not believe that the majority of EU member states would back Orbán's approach:

“How could they when he favours solutions that represent a departure from European values and international conventions. As someone who violates the fundamental values of the Treaty on European Union, he had the temerity to give advice to the 27 member states on reforming the asylum system - naturally in a way that does not comply with international regulations. This is typical of Orbán and should come as no surprise: if the system needs to be changed, it should be done in a way that serves national interests and not the interests of the community as a whole.”

Die Weltwoche is full of praise for Orbán:

“It was a memorable day in Strasbourg: the European Parliament was unmasked for everyone to see. ... What was so dreadful about Orbán's speech? Nothing. It was a fiery declaration of commitment to Europe. He called it a 'wake-up call', because Europe must change. ... Von der Leyen and her red-green-yellow-black backers weren't having any of it. They don't want to change anything. ... Nevertheless, the EU will change, it will just take a little longer. But a first step was taken when Viktor Orbán tore off the mask of this EU.”

Die Presse points out that Hungary is by no means doing as well as Orbán says it is:

“Hungary is lagging behind its neighbours economically. The lack of state investment in healthcare, education and infrastructure is having pervasive consequences, and anyone who wants to get ahead in life without submitting to Fidesz is looking for a way out. No matter how confident the prime minister may have sounded on Wednesday in the plenary chamber of the European Parliament in Strasbourg when talking about how well Hungary is doing: EU statistics show how far his country has fallen behind.”

Both leaders benefited from this confrontation, De Standaard concludes:

“Relations between von der Leyen and Orbán have already been strained for some time now. In June, he was the only one to vote against a second term for the German Commission president. ... In Orbán's view, the EU is pursuing a policy of war under von der Leyen. Their confrontation suits both of them. Orbán can use the media he controls to show that he is still fighting against 'Brussels'. And von der Leyen knows that her stance will score her points with the pro-European political groups. She has already received a standing ovation.”

Orbán wants to break up Europe from within, La Repubblica explains:

“The Hungarian leader has become the long arm of Putin, who, having failed to subjuagte Europe with the invasion of Ukraine, is now trying to destroy it from within. ... We Europeans often forget that the roots of the war in Ukraine lie in the demonstrations on Maidan Square, which were adorned with blue pro-EU flags. But Putin remembers them very well. And in Orbán he has found a tool to turn Europe against itself. For years Brussels turned away, pretending not to see what was happening. But yesterday's clash in parliament shows that it has finally become aware of the asymmetrical warfare that is taking place not only in the Donbass, but also within our own borders.”

Der Standard sees in Orbán a politician who wants to dismantle the EU:

“The prime minister has not always been a right-wing populist. He was a liberal freedom fighter as a young man and vehemently advocated his country's accession to the EU and Nato, to the free West. But Orbán turned into a radical anti-European by conviction. His actions are not determined by tactics. He has a strategic mission: to destroy the open, liberal and diverse European Union and return to 'national alliances'. By any means necessary, including deception.”

Von der Leyen's harsh reaction won't bother Orbán, the Süddeutsche Zeitung suspects:

“He couldn't care less what the Commission President thinks of him. ... But what his 26 EU colleagues think of him is not all that irrelevant for Orbán. If they were united, they could severely penalise Hungary. But they are not. ... The most important political date for Orbán this year is 5 November anyway. On that day, the new president will be elected in the US, and Orbán will not miss an opportunity to chain himself politically to Donald Trump. If Trump wins in America, this will also strengthen Orbán and all other right-wing populists in Europe. If Trump loses, Orbán loses too.”

Orbán's position on the European stage is weakening, Hospodářské noviny believes:

“He has always managed to walk a fine line and avoid annoying his key allies, especially Germany. He bought support there by cooperating with the German automotive and arms industries. Now German entrepreneurs are complaining that they are being squeezed out of various local sectors by Hungarian oligarchs. ... This is evidenced by a speech given by the German ambassador a week ago in Budapest on German Unity Day in which, contrary to diplomatic etiquette, she harshly criticised Orbán. Gone are the days when he could rely on the support of Chancellor Angela Merkel in his disputes at the European level.”

Orbán was also harshly criticised by Hungarian opposition leader and MEP Péter Magyar in Strasbourg. Hungarian MEPs should not use the European Parliament for domestic political debates, writes hvg:

“Together with the other Hungarian politicians, Orbán has brought shame on us all. ... Hungarian politicians went to Strasbourg because Viktor Orbán thought this would boost his waning popularity. ... And other Hungarian [opposition] politicians jumped at the chance to take advantage of this platform: to question, lecture, denounce, provoke, strike back and destroy.”