From the outset, Viktor Orban took up verbatim the concept that had been formulated a few days earlier by Emmanuel Macron to justify his trip to Hungary, the first by a French president since 2007. “We are political opponents, but also European partners”, said the Hungarian nationalist prime minister by welcoming, on Monday, December 13, Mr. Macron to the Carmelite monastery in Budapest, where he moved his offices, in 2019.
Slightly forced smiles, manly handshakes, but also a side-by-side photo on the magnificent terrace overlooking the Danube, and even out of the European flags that Viktor Orban usually leaves in the closet… The whole day has been placed under this diptych for these political leaders who dream of changing Europe in theoretically opposite directions and who have to face elections in April 2022, for which each serves as a scarecrow to the other on its domestic political scene.
“I do not want to interfere in the Hungarian ballot”, promised Emmanuel Macron, yet never ceasing to send signals against the one who received Marine Le Pen and Eric Zemmour in his offices in recent months. Recollection at the tomb of the philosopher and opponent Agnes Heller, meeting with the leader of the very critical Jewish community of Orban, Andras Heisler, then reception of the leaders of the opposition in the residence of the Ambassador of France, as could be expected. to do François Mitterrand during the communist era …
“Great gesture”
Visiting Sunday in Poland, the other European country criticized for its anti-democratic drift, the new German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, did not bother to send such signals. “In diplomatic terms, this is a great gesture”, also greeted Peter Marki-Zay, the candidate nominated by the Hungarian opposition to face Mr. Orban, in April. “He was told that no one was able to compromise with Viktor Orban”, however, recalled the leader of the liberal Momentum party, Anna Donath, while Emmanuel Macron defended all day that agreements were possible with a view to the French presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU), which is due to begin in early January 2022.
“Nuclear”, “strategic autonomy” and “Europe of defense” were first mentioned by the two leaders, very aligned on these points despite their political differences. Mr. Macron thanked Mr. Orban for his commitment to the “Task Force Takuba” in Mali, and the two countries jointly defended that nuclear energy must be recognized as favorable to the fight against climate change at European level. When asked about a possible arms sale to Hungary, Mr. Macron said it had not been on the menu of discussions, but that it could be the case ” in the future “.
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