Brussels Preparing Strategy for ‘Eventuality’ of Orbán Victory
While close-to-the-opposition polls predict a Fidesz defeat, some EU countries are already drafting plans to prevent a sixth Orbán government from “derailing” decision-making processes.
A billboard featuring a portrait of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán with the text reading “Let’s join forces against the war,” is seen in Budapest on March 27, 2026, ahead of the parliamentary elections on April 12, 2026.
ATTILA KISBENEDEK / AFP
While close-to-the-opposition polls predict a Fidesz defeat, some EU countries are already drafting plans to prevent a sixth Orbán government from “derailing” decision-making processes.
With only a few days to go until the Hungarian elections, Brussels is already preparing for a Viktor Orbán reelection scenario, unnamed EU officials told Politico.
Reportedly, ideas have been floated in the EU on how to deal with the Hungarian prime minister saying no to war and vetoing military aid to Ukraine. Options range from continuing current pressure, including withholding EU funds, to more aggressive steps like expanding legal action, tightening rule-of-law conditionality, or bypassing Hungary in decision-making through “coalitions of willing” member states. In more extreme scenarios, officials have allegedly also discussed limiting Hungary’s voting rights or informally sidelining it from key decisions.
The news highlights that the EU is increasingly preparing for a reckoning if Orbán continues to obstruct mainstream policies, particularly on issues like Ukraine support, where Hungary has already blocked major initiatives.
The latest episode of europeanconservative.com’s podcast series Europe Unmaskedanalyzes how the EU and left-wing forces in Europe are already preparing narratives to delegitimize a potential victory of the ruling Fidesz party, including the floating of allegations of electoral interference and cheating.
The information anonymous sources have reportedly shared with Politico confirm that Brussels is prepared to challenge the will of Hungarian voters should the majority choose a government it does not like. It would of course not be the first time EU institutions attempt to interfere in democratic processes in a European country.
Pollsters report radically diverging predictions for the outcome of the April 12th vote, with left-liberal-leaning ones claiming Tisza has a commanding lead, while those closer to the government as well as independent foreign ones say Fidesz is ahead of Tisza by around five percentage points. Yet there are more and more signals that Brussels is in fact counting on an Orbán victory, despite the substantial political support it has provided to his main challenger, Péter Magyar.
Zolta Győri is a journalist at europeanconservative.com.
