Scandal-ridden Fidesz politician Szájer resurfaces with EU critique and new think tank leadership

After years of silence following his 2020 scandal in Brussels, former Fidesz MEP Szájer József has returned to the public sphere with a bold stance on European Union reform and a new role as head of the recently launched Free Europe Institute. The institute, created under the guidance of historian Mária Schmidt, seeks to champion a vision of European integration based on national sovereignty rather than federalism, according to Szájer.

József Szájer is back, and he’s back with a plan

In his official statement, Szájer emphasises the institute’s mission to counter the concept of a “United States of Europe,” advocating instead for a model where member states retain autonomy. This approach aligns with Hungary’s constitution, he notes, which holds that EU cooperation should empower states to exercise sovereignty together, rather than ceding control to central EU bodies. Szájer is adamant about using his knowledge of constitutional and EU law to support this mission through research, analysis, and advisory efforts.

The newly established think tank, with a small but ambitious team, plans to roll out several key projects. Among these are a detailed blueprint for a “sovereign Europe” inspired by the 1960s Fouchet Plan and a sovereignty index to measure EU countries’ independence. Additionally, Szájer aims to draft a “Charter of Nations’ Rights” to balance the EU’s current charter, which primarily safeguards individual rights.

In a lengthy analysis published on Mária Schmidt’s blog, Szájer extends his critique, framing the EU as fundamentally undemocratic and out of touch with European citizens, 24.hu writes. He argues that a series of crises over the past fifteen years has exposed the EU’s inability to respond effectively, attributing this failure to “ideological biases” that disconnect it from citizens’ needs. Szájer positions the newly formed Patriots Group—led by Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán—as a viable alternative, capable of breaking the EU’s cycle of ineffective policies with a focus on “democracy and freedom, driven by citizens’ votes.”