In its latest ranking, US-based news outlet Politico named former US President Donald Trump the most powerful figure influencing Europe’s future—marking the first time they included someone active outside Europe. Not far behind is Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, standing as one of the continent’s key power players alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The Hungarian premier follows European People’s Party leader Manfred Weber and edges out Austrian PM Alexander Stubb, while leaders like France’s Emmanuel Macron and Poland’s Karol Nawrocki trail well behind him.
Trump is the most powerful
Politico explains Trump’s dominant influence over Europe: “His shadow looms so large over European capitals that his decisions—whether explosive or strategic—have reshaped everything from defence budgets to trade policy.” In a recent interview with Politico’s Dasha Burns, Trump criticised Europe’s weakness and dismissed claims that he offered Orbán a financial shield amid Hungary’s challenges. For more on the Trump-Orbán financial “dispute”, see:
- PM Orbán claimed Trump promised financial shield for Hungary — Trump denies it
Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen claimed second place, followed by Friedrich Merz in third. Orbán holds the twelfth spot, gearing up for what might be his toughest election battle since 2006. While he dominated polls for nearly two decades, the recent presidential clemency scandal involving the former justice minister has shaken his campaign’s momentum. Péter Magyar, the ex-husband of Orbán’s former minister, now leads many independent polls, though government-linked surveys still show the incumbent prime minister ahead.
Recent measures like introducing a 14th pension month and abolishing personal income tax for mothers of two or more children have helped Orbán regain some support.
Orbán is a headache in Europe
Politico paints the Hungarian prime minister as a headache for the European Union, highlighting his push for an illiberal state with tight media control and a weakened judiciary. They note his frequent use of veto power to disrupt EU decision-making: “As a full EU member, he enjoys every right and veto—and uses them to maximum effect.” Additionally, the outlet identifies Orbán as the bloc’s most reliable ally to Vladimir Putin.
Despite Magyar’s rising popularity, Politico points out the prime minister’s vast political machine remains a formidable force. Still, Hungary’s economic downturn could prove a key factor influencing the election outcome.
Concerning how the list is compiled, Politico writes that “inclusion on the list is not an endorsement or award. It reflects, instead, each individual’s capacity to shape Europe’s politics and policies in the year ahead, as assessed by our newsroom and the power players we speak with.”
Read also:
- Hungarian government: Hungary will not take in a single migrant!
Click for more news concerning the Hungarian prime minister.
He is powerful because he STANDS for something and because he LISTENS to his nation.
He is a total contrast to the dozens of cookie-cutter technocrats who are indistinguishable from one another and whose sole purpose is implementing foreign agenda, regardless of how their countries are impacted.
I mean, does anyone know off the top of their head the name of that German dufus who is supposedly the country’s chancellor? Or the clown (mis)managing Spain? Pathetic nonentities, often childness, who are destroying centuries of European and Judeo-Christian civilization.
“He is powerful because he STANDS for something and because he LISTENS to his nation.”
Die echte Wahrheit haben Sie gesprochen, Mein Lieber Steiner – die echte Wahrheit!
Powerfully NEGATIVE. He is powerfully undermining European security in favour of Russian interests.
The only ones ‘undermining European Security’, My Dear Larry, are the Elite in Bruxelles and the bankers they serve.
As to ‘serving Russian interests’, you regard anyone who isn’t rabidly anti-Russian warmongerer and submissive to Bruxelles as a ‘Russian Puppet’.
Surely you do not go through your personal life removing all grey areas, do you?
You are a Russian agent. All Europe needs and wants is defence against Russian aggression which is on full display in Ukraine and has also been in Georgia. Russia is the largest country in the world but it not enough. It must take more territory because it is an imperialist aggressor.
If the only way you can cope with my opinions, and similar opinions of many tens of millions of Westerners, is to think that we are Russian Agents, then okay : I’ll put on my Bullwinkle hat and play the Boris & Natasha routine for you.
For whatever it is worth, Russia isn’t taking any territory that is not inhabited by Russians or that has not belonged to it for a thousand years.
Yet, if the Western Elite had not worked tirelessly to provoke this, and had allowed Russia to become an integrated part of the EU and NATO, when it had wanted to do so in the 1990s and early 2000s, then we would not be here discussing this – nor would 20 million Ukrainian be wandering homeless or nearly 2 million Ukrainians recently dead.
The West has a destroy Russia brain fever, for the last 300 years, and, sad to say, it just keeps resurfacing.
Larry, there are so many positive things we could be doing in The West right now, including with Russia, and many of us are stuck on the idea of hating and trying to kill them.
Christ warned us about emnity and pressed us to forgive each other – so we would not become trapped, or easily manipulated by government-media devils.
In any case – be well, and, God forbid, do not open a bottle of Stolichnaya for the holidays!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4txmBNCAXg8
Little history lesson. We, Poland, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, Romania, Bulgaria, Albania, Croatia, Montenegro, and North Macedonia all joined NATO.
And do not forget: NATO Membership also has requirements regarding democracy, military reforms, and political stability.
So @Mouton – why did we, along with everyone else, all decide to join NATO? Perhaps to protect against possible Russian aggression? Align themselves with Western political, military, and economic structures?
Post-Soviet Russia has signed and regularly cites (when convenient) treaties that support sovereignty. However, actions speak louder than words. Georgia (2008), Crimea, Ukraine, Transnistria, Moldova, covert operations in Europe …
Our (collective) Russian past was hardly a pleasant one. Do not get my grandparents started. They remember. Even as some of their other memories fade. And we have come a very long way, since. Thanks to NATO, the European Union and perhaps even the “Western Elites!”.
And your Christmas is on January 7, right?
“So @Mouton – why did we, along with everyone else, all decide to join NATO? Perhaps to protect against possible Russian aggression?”
Yes, absolutely – many of these countries joined with worries of Russian Aggression.
That said, how many times has Poland invaded Russia
How many times has Russia invaded Hungary, not to mention Croatia, Montenegro and Albania?
Could it be that Poland is always trying to align itself with the Anglo world?
Could it be that some of the politicians of these countries wanted to financially benefit by enrolling their countries in NATO?
Could it be that the Soviet Union did not behave as did Czarist regimes or that of Vladimir Putin?
Could it be that some of these countries have PTSD from WWII?and that is understandable.
Could it be that you continue to correctly note policies that Russia has undertaken in recent years, but not notice what prompted it?
Could it be that you live in a world where Russia is, and always will be, the permanent bogey-man, no matter what happens?
Could it be that you, too, cannot believe that I am a real private citizen of the disUnited States of America?
Could it be that like so many other Modern Leftists, the only way you can cope with a diversity of view is to consider the bearers of those views disingenuous?
What do you think of you countrymen, in Mi Hazank and Fidesz, who agree with my views?
Are they celebrators of Xmas on January 7, as well?
“Our (collective) Russian past was hardly a pleasant one. Do not get my grandparents started. They remember.”
I am aware of this sad reality – that Hungarians were victimized by the consequences of the horrific policy decision of the Horthy Administration to join much of the rest of Europe in invading Russia.
That is why your current prime minister has developed the exact foreign policies he has for your country – to prevent such a thing from ever happening again.
If someone is going to be invaded by Russia, in the coming years, it will NOT be a Hungary with Orbán in charge of it, but, rather, some of those other countries who are led by those who keep talking WWIII with Russia.
You forgot “Soros!”
“PM Orbán ranks among Europe’s most powerful leaders.’
He is the most esteemed in the West, and it is not even close.
I mentioned a few months ago, here, that I had the sense that President Trump and Elon Musk will try to form a new Europe based around Hungary, and, as it seems Magyar’s candidacy is declining sharply, it will be Orban’s Hungary.
Of course, there is nothing revolutionary here, within the context of European history, as Orban merely acts like European leaders commonly did, just a few decades ago.
Correction @Mouton.
Mr. Orbáns approach to democratic institutions (rule by decree, anyone), media control, and judicial independence goes well beyond what European leaders commonly did, just a few decades ago.
And our Politicians propensity for state intervention in the economy and enabling oligarchs is very different from what “Western Elites!” / conservatives were advocating in the nineties and early naughties.
Interested in your point of view?
“Mr. Orbáns approach to democratic institutions (rule by decree, anyone), media control, and judicial independence goes well beyond what European leaders commonly did, just a few decades ago…Á
You pick a good example, Dear Norbert, for it supports your point of view that Orban is out of line with Modern European governmental tradition.
Yet, as you always do : you ignore the many areas that defy your views.
Do I have to list all the areas where Orbán’s administration is not as you wish me to think it – exclusively authoritarian and autocratic?
Could it be that Orbán did these things in response to a vicious Western Elite determination to remake Hungary in it’s own image?
And now for a news flash for you, My Dear Norbert : even if Orbán wanted to govern exactly as did Helmut Schmidt did Germany, decades back, the Western Elite would get him out of power yesterday.
What does this mean?
It means that if you support the anti-Orbán forces, you are supporting the complete destruction of your country – for not only will EU money come in, so too will every non-European Race in the world.
Your children will be relentless sexualized, your culture will be torn apart, and the public safety that Mi Hazank always complains about, will be a joke compared to what comes.
If you look at Germany and France today, with envy, then Magyar and Tisza is your vote – for they will dismantle Hungary quicker than you could believe.
How do I know this?
Because the country in which I live was conquered by these exact same people, and taken apart and sold off.
I was born in a good, yet imperfect, nation, and now I live in an occupied failed nation that has little sovereignty left to it, little opportunity in it, is very expensive, and has very little stability.
We, Americans, are slaves of the Corporate World Order, and if you, Hungarians, wish this fate for yourselves, I feel sorry for you.
That said, every man is entitled to his dreams – even if, albeit, they are nightmares.
Be well!
Steiner & Mouton (AI bot)
Real power is more than just wielding a veto ;D
Mouton is pure Russian cyber warfare agent or bot. Steiner is just unhinged.
Yes, Dear Larry – anyone who does not share your anti-Hungarian anti-Russian views has to either be an agent, deceptive, or ‘unhinged’.
The whole world of opinion can only be these to options – agree with you or be unreal!
I would say that, with maturity, I have something to look forward to, but, as I am either your age or older than you, I will not say it!
Mouton, I really want you to develop your answers!
Every time you got criticized you answer in the same way MAN! or BOT!
Improve a bit !
Whenever I receive unserious replies that lack substance, I will politely demonstrate how unsubstantial it is.
🤣