Viktor Orban has had a penchant for provocation. As Hungary prepares to take over the six-month presidency of the Council of the European Union on Monday, July 1, the Hungarian prime minister has chosen to adopt a decidedly Trumpian tone with the slogan "Make Europe Great Again," or "MEGA". The nationalist leader, who visited his "friend" Donald Trump in March, is well aware of just how worried his counterparts have been about the possibility that the Republican candidate will regain the White House in the November 5 US presidential election. "As far as I know, Donald Trump has never wanted to make Europe strong," said Hungarian Minister for European Affairs Janos Boka in jest, responding to a question about the choice of slogan.
Even if Orban has yearned to tear down a Europe that he has often compared to the USSR, turning it into a mere "Europe of nations," he knows that the presidency of the Council of the EU won't enable him to achieve his goal. The country holding the rotating presidency has the task of defining certain priorities, organizing debates between member countries and seeking compromise among them on legislation under consideration, all while remaining an impartial mediator. "Having already exercised [the role] [in 2011], this presidency should not be overestimated," said the Hungarian prime minister, eager to "reassure those in Europe who are terrified by this prospect," in an interview with French weekly Le Point on May 29.
Indeed, some members of European institutions have been worried about having this illiberal country with close ties to the Kremlin take on the role, especially with war raging in Ukraine and at a time when the far right has been knocking on the doors of power in France. On May 30, 2023, German Minister of State for Europe and Climate Anna Lührmann expressed her "doubts about Hungary's ability to carry out" this mission, under the circumstances. On the same day, her Dutch counterpart, Wopke Hoekstra, expressed his "discomfort" at the prospect. "That's how we all feel," he said.
Minimal role
On June 1, 2023, the European Parliament voted, by a large majority, for a (non-binding) resolution in which MEPs questioned Budapest's ability "to credibly fulfill its task in view of its non-compliance with EU law and values," and called on the Council to "find a proper solution as soon as possible." All the while knowing that the treaties do not provide for any exception to the rotation of the presidency every six months. Only once in the history of the EU has a country − the UK − opted out, but that was in 2017, after the vote in favor of Brexit.
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