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Romanian President Dan criticizes Orbán harshly, while ministers praise cooperation in Budapest
On Thursday, two seemingly unrelated diplomatic developments played out side by side. In one, Romania’s new president delivered a pointed critique of Hungary; in the other, Romanian and Hungarian ministers spoke of record-level economic cooperation. Together, the two scenes capture the Orbán government’s relationship with its neighbours: politically tense, yet economically increasingly close.
Dan sends a message to Budapest while backing Zelensky
Romanian President Nicușor Dan hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Bucharest – and, answering journalists’ questions, used unusually strong language to describe the Hungarian government’s latest move. Budapest, he said, had blocked an EU loan that all 27 member states had previously approved to support Ukraine.
Dan argued it was unacceptable for a joint decision on such an important issue – one intended to finance Ukraine’s civilian and military needs – to be questioned by a single member state just two or three weeks later. He noted that another EU summit will be held in a week, at which the European Commission is expected to propose several legal options to break the deadlock. Romania is ready to support any of them, Dan said.
In the background is a resolution adopted by the Hungarian parliament on Tuesday. With the Orbán government’s two-thirds majority, MPs voted against supporting Ukraine’s EU membership and against sending weapons and money, and called on the government to do everything it can to prevent Hungary or the EU from being “dragged into” the Russia–Ukraine war.
Guarantees on minority standards
According to Agerpres, Zelensky signed a decree establishing a national day for the Romanian language in Ukraine, to be marked on 31 August. The talks also touched on minority-language rights, an issue the Hungarian government has long highlighted. Dan said he had received guarantees that Romanian-language schools would be able to operate without disruption, and that the rights of the Romanian community would be ensured in line with international minority-protection standards.
This is worth noting, by the way, because Budapest has been unable to secure guarantees for minority rights in Ukraine, although it is true that its relationship with Ukraine is entirely different from that of Bucharest. The EU has also repeatedly called on Kyiv to align itself with European standards on minority rights, for example, with regard to Hungarian minorities.
Why are all these people hating Orbán so much?
What about Fico?
Hungary didn’t blick it alone, it was a Hungarian-Slovak alliance. Yet, only “Hungary, Hungary, Hungary. Orbán, Orbán, Orbán. Fico? Who’s that? Anyway Orbán bad.”
Like mad dogs venting frustration and bloodlust on the only target their owner allows.
Poor Orbán, always the victim! It must be exhausting being the only leader in Europe whose “alliances” require everyone else to ignore reality. You’re right, Fico wasn’t mentioned—probably because he wasn’t the one caught on camera blocking a loan he already agreed to. The “mad dogs” aren’t following an owner, Márk. They’re just barking at the guy holding the bone 😀
Dan called Orban out as a lying backstabber who first agreed to a loan for Ukraine and then blocked it three weeks later. The Hungarian government of Fidesz is a malicious entity bent on causing the destruction of Europe by Russian conquest. “Why are people hating Orban so much”? There is your answer.