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Freudian slip? PM Orbán mistakenly claimed there is 26 EU members instead of 27
A minor verbal slip by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has reignited debate over Hungary’s increasingly strained relationship with the European Union. During his regular Friday morning interview on Kossuth Radio, Orbán referred to “26 EU member states” when discussing joint financial support for Ukraine, despite the bloc having 27 members.
Did Viktor Orbán plan way too ahead?
As Népszava writes, the comment came as he criticised the EU’s decision to raise funds for Ukraine through a collective loan of around EUR 90 billion. According to Orbán, the Union currently lacks the budgetary capacity to provide direct support, prompting most member states to turn to the financial markets instead. In his remarks, he suggested that 23 of the 26 participating countries would take on the borrowing, once again citing an incorrect total number of EU members.
The funding decision itself has been controversial. At the European Council summit held on 17–18 December, leaders clashed over how to finance continued assistance for Ukraine as it defends itself against Russian aggression. Ultimately, 24 EU countries backed the joint borrowing scheme, while Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic opted out.
Was it accidental, or was he serious?
Observers noted that Orbán’s repeated use of the number 26 may not have been accidental. Hungary has often stood alone in blocking or delaying common EU statements, particularly on Ukraine-related matters, leading to situations where only 26 leaders sign joint conclusions. Critics argue that this recurring isolation may be shaping the prime minister’s rhetoric.
The radio interview was not the only recent example of numerical confusion. Orbán, who, after almost 4 years of war in our neighbour, is not sure who attacked whom, has made several high-profile slips in recent weeks, including misstating figures related to minimum wage increases and miscalculating the number of days remaining until an election. But was it really a mistake? Former PM of Hungary, Gordon Bajnai thinks that, even though currently impossible, Orbán’s plan could be an eventual exit from the European Union.
While such errors may seem trivial, analysts warn that the political implications are not. Despite years of government-led criticism of “Brussels”, public support for EU membership in Hungary remains strong. Any serious suggestion of withdrawal could prove electorally damaging for Fidesz, potentially triggering economic uncertainty, increased emigration and further marginalisation within Europe.
The reality, not the words or the titles, or the administrative laws, is that Hungary left the European Union when it, in clear contravention of every European tradition, above all our Christian faith, decided to try to force Hungary to systemically sexualize it’s children.
At that point, in real terms, Hungary was gone.
But, then Hungary is not alone in carrying on something of a farce. No, using the Ukraine to try and take down Russia, when the Ukraine is neither in NATO or the EU, is a reality all of it’s own – or perhaps the better word is ‘irreality’.
Unfortunately this situation is like more than a few husbands and wives I have known, who, because of habit, children, the neighbours, or just plain financial exigiency, continue carry on with the shell of the marriage, but, there really is nothing there.
In fact, the husband and the wife not so secretly despise each other.
Sad, but, this is how life often works out – Spring flowers full of promise, at first, only to be bitter crushed dead leaves by Winter’s arrival…