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Romania’s far-right AUR backs Orbán as ‘right choice’
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Romanian far-right party AUR has openly backed Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán ahead of Hungary’s next parliamentary elections, calling him the “right choice” despite some reservations.
Gheorghe Piperea, a prominent Member of the European Parliament for AUR, told TransTelex there are “no serious objections” to Orbán, although he cautioned against political leaders remaining in power for too long. Still, he stressed that Orbán is “clearly a better choice” than opposition figure Péter Magyar.
Piperea emphasised that both Hungary’s ruling Fidesz party and AUR share a common ideological ground as “conservative sovereigntists”, particularly on migration, family policy, and their critical stance towards the European Union.
Shared positions on key issues
The Romanian politician outlined a broad alignment between the two parties on major political questions. These include opposition to illegal migration, support for traditional family policies, and scepticism towards EU institutions.
He also echoed the Hungarian government’s position on the war in Ukraine, expressing sympathy for Orbán over energy disputes linked to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Piperea criticised Kyiv’s actions affecting oil transit through the Druzhba pipeline and supported stricter enforcement measures against alleged irregular financial transfers.
From political signals to missed invitations
Despite this ideological proximity, relations between Fidesz and AUR appear increasingly complicated.
A key moment of rapprochement came in May 2025, when Orbán signalled support for AUR leader George Simion during Romania’s presidential campaign. In a speech in Tihany, Orbán declared his agreement with Simion’s vision of a “Europe of nations” and a “Christian Europe”.
However, recent developments suggest a cooling of ties. AUR politicians were notably absent from major right-wing gatherings hosted in Budapest, including CPAC Hungary and the Patriots for Europe rally. These events brought together a wide range of far-right and conservative figures from across Europe and beyond, yet Romanian representatives were excluded.
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A ‘strategic mistake’?
Piperea described the lack of invitation as a “strategic mistake” by Orbán, arguing that AUR should be treated as a natural partner rather than being sidelined.
“Under normal circumstances, we should be seen as partners, not kept at a distance,” he said, adding that many of Orbán’s policies are already reflected in AUR’s own political programme.
He also pointed out what he sees as a contradiction: while Orbán frequently criticises the European Commission and its president, Ursula von der Leyen, for attempting to politically isolate Hungary, he appears to have adopted a similar approach towards AUR.
Long-term cooperation seen as inevitable
Despite current tensions, Piperea believes cooperation between Hungarian and Romanian “sovereigntist” forces is ultimately unavoidable. He argued that if AUR comes to power in Romania, Orbán will have little choice but to engage more closely with them.
He also downplayed traditional Hungarian–Romanian conflicts, suggesting that the real political divide lies not between nations, but between conservative and progressive ideologies.
According to Piperea, both countries would benefit more from strengthening economic and social cooperation rather than fuelling historical disputes. He noted growing cross-border ties, including increasing numbers of mixed marriages in Transylvania, as evidence of deepening societal links.