The EU is done with Viktor Orban. It can’t bear him anymore

For years, Viktor Orbán has played the European Union like a fiddle. He has blocked sanctions, undermined democratic norms, and flirted openly with Vladimir Putin — all while collecting billions in EU funds. But now, with war on Europe’s doorstep and the stakes higher than ever, Brussels appears to have finally had enough.

The Hungarian prime minister has long been a thorn in the EU’s side. Yet until recently, most of the damage he inflicted– from judicial rollbacks to attacks on press freedom– was viewed as containable. No longer. The extension of Russia’s war on Ukraine has pushed Orbán from irritant to existential threat.

Orbán sides with Putin, Trump over EU

For senior EU officials, the war is a defining moment. They argue that if Russian President Vladimir Putin is allowed to succeed in Ukraine, the consequences will extend far beyond Kyiv.

With Donald Trump back in the White House , the threat is even greater. European leaders like France’s Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer hope to contain Putin with American partnership. But in truth, Europe is increasingly on its own.

That means taking responsibility for defending Ukraine and deterring future Russian aggression. Yet Orbán continues to obstruct. He has used his veto to block sanctions on Russian elites and delayed aid packages. In doing so, he positions himself not just as a spoiler, but as a liability.

Brussels sharpens its tools

Germany’s incoming government, led by conservative Friedrich Merz, has had enough. A draft coalition agreement with the centre-left SPD calls for the EU to take real action against rogue member states — including the suspension of voting rights and the withholding of funds, according to Politico .

At the same time, Berlin is pushing to replace the unanimity rule in EU foreign policy with qualified majority voting. That would allow the EU to impose sanctions or approve key security measures without Budapest’s consent.

The Commission already has financial leverage. Hungary has yet to receive €21.4 billion of its €44.4 billion allocation from the EU’s 2021–27 budget.

With Hungary’s economy stagnating and inflation surging, Orbán is resorting to populist tax cuts and food subsidies, pushing the deficit to unsustainable levels. Investors are nervous, and EU funds are his best hope of calming markets.

A political threat rises at home

Orbán’s domestic standing is under pressure too. The unexpected rise of Péter Magyar and his Tisza party, which secured nearly 30 percent in last year’s EU elections, has shaken Orbán’s once-unchallenged grip on power. Magyar, a former Fidesz ally, has become a symbol of resistance to Orbán’s authoritarianism. His growing popularity is exposing cracks in the prime minister’s political dominance.

As the Commission prepares to launch new defence initiatives, including a proposed €150 billion security fund, Hungary’s access to these resources remains uncertain. Orbán wants a free pass. Brussels, this time, may say no.

The EU must decide whether to defend its founding values or continue tolerating those who erode them from within. Facing war, instability and political fragmentation, the bloc must show that it will not be held hostage.

The EU is done with Viktor Orbán. It cannot afford not to be.