Orban Calls for Resistance Against New Hungarian Government

Hungary's former Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who lost power after 16 years in the April 2022 elections, has called on his supporters to resist what he describes as the 'tyranny' of the new government. In a late-night Facebook post, Orban issued a 'Declaration of Resistance' shortly after his Fidesz party announced that prosecutors raided offices housing its internet servers. Prosecutors told Reuters the raid is linked to an investigation into 'embezzlement and other criminal offenses' at the National Cultural Fund. Orban's statement marks his strongest political remarks since his electoral defeat. The move signals a deepening political rift in Hungary, with the former leader framing the new government's actions as authoritarian.

Global Impact

Politically, Orban's call for resistance deepens the domestic polarization in Hungary, potentially destabilizing the ruling coalition's agenda and delaying legislative progress. This could strain Hungary's relationship with the EU, as Brussels has already been critical of Orban's previous government's democratic backsliding.