Prime Minister Viktor Orbán will meet AfD leader Alice Weidel next week.Continue reading
The leader of Alternative for Germany (AfD), Alice Weidel, traveled to Budapest for talks with Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. After their meeting, Mr Orbán described the German chancellor candidate as the “future of Germany”.
According to reports, the meeting between the politicians focused on the European migration situation.
Today I met the future of Germany. It was an honour to welcome you in Budapest, Chairwoman @Alice_Weidel! pic.twitter.com/Wi7MgK1VJ9
— Orbán Viktor (@PM_ViktorOrban) February 12, 2025
Earlier, the government said that even though they do not agree with AfD on every matter, there are issues on which they share the same views. Minister Gergely Gulyás pointed out at last week’s Government Info that if the candidate for chancellor of one of Germany’s parties with over 20 percent support asks the Hungarian Prime Minister for a meeting, Mr. Orbán will give her the opportunity. Last week, however, Mr. Gulyás also stated that the AfD is not expected to join the Patriots for Europe group just yet.
At the joint press conference after their meeting, Viktor Orbán said that there is a piquancy in today’s meeting, namely that the AfD is not the party whose leader is usually received by prime ministers in every country. However, he said, it was time to change that.
He pointed out that German-Hungarian relations are unique in Europe and that Hungary would find it much easier to prosper economically if Germany were successful. Therefore, Hungary is looking forward to the time when Germany will be successful again, which will give the Hungarian economy extra dynamism.
Mr Orbán stressed that all the AfD’s important agenda points are ones that would benefit Hungary and would be good if they could be implemented, from migration to energy policy.
On the issues regarding the European Union, the Prime Minister said that he had taken the more radical position in their meeting. Viktor Orbán highlighted that there is a problem with both form and substance in EU politics. He pointed out that there is no competitiveness in the EU and the Green Deal is dead and cannot be reformed. He stressed that a green approach was still needed and that the climate issue should be addressed, but not in this form. According to the Prime Minister, a new energy policy is needed, energy sanctions should be lifted, closed supply lines should be reopened and energy sources that had been shut off should be brought back.
On EU policy, Mr Orbán pointed out that the EU’s position is pro-migration, while EU citizens want the opposite. He said that
democracy is a problem because the ruling elite in Brussels does not want to incorporate into its policies what the people really want.
The Prime Minister concluded by stressing that Hungary cannot save the EU, and that the situation must be remedied by the French and Germans.
@AfD’s co-chair and chancellor candidate @Alice_Weidel met with @PM_ViktorOrban in Hungary!
Germany is the engine of the European economy and a central player in EU cooperation. But over the past four years, under the leadership of Social Democrats, Liberals, and Greens,… pic.twitter.com/f1BeOuq5N2
— Balázs Orbán (@BalazsOrban_HU) February 12, 2025
Speaking at the press conference, AfD leader Alice Weidel said that she believes Germany’s relations with neighboring and nearby countries, including Hungary, have deteriorated. It is her duty as a political leader, and possible future chancellor, to improve relations and that is why she travelled to Budapest. She pointed out that Germany had become weak recently, with weak leadership, weak economic policies and a failed green policy. According to her, it was Angela Merkel who had ruined the country.
She reminded that in addition to migration and crime, high taxes were another problem. Alice Weidel said that people were suffering and that it was important for the AfD to bring order. She said that
they wanted a proud country, a country they could be proud of, and she cited Hungary as a role model in this.
The politician emphasized that the AfD’s aim is to cut taxes and they also want a free country. She stressed that if they win the elections, she wants freedom, a free, rich, prosperous and sovereign country that also has good relations with its neighbors. She stressed the need to put Germany back on track, again citing Hungary as a role model.
On the European Union, Alice Weidel said that it needed to be reformed, and that this could only be achieved from within, and only if strong, self-aware nations made up the member states.
The latter, she said, could be achieved by reducing EU competences and by dismantling the corrupt EU superstructure. The problem at the moment, she said, is that EU leaders are not elected by the voters, and she believes decisions should be taken in national parliaments.
Alice Weidel concluded by thanking Viktor Orbán for his policy of sobriety, his fight for freedom and the freedom of European nations, and stressed that the AfD was happy to follow the Hungarian government on this path.
Featured photo via MTI/Miniszterelnöki Sajtóiroda/Benko Vivien Cher