Viktor Orban Caught in Crossfire of Bulgarian Political Debate

Viktor Orban has long been the most well-known and popular foreign politician in Bulgaria, especially among right-wing and conservative voters. It’s no coincidence that the neoliberal media constantly seeks to discredit him.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban (Photo: MTI)

In an appearance on the Brussels 1 program, Bulgarian MEPs declared that they would continue their explanatory campaign and expect EU institutions to react to what they call “a candidate country’s prime minister manipulating EP reports and distorting political processes.” They stressed that Bulgaria is not introducing new demands, only expecting adherence to previously accepted conditions, including constitutional amendments and guarantees for the rights of the Bulgarian minority.

Bulgarian Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov met with European Council President Antonio Costa, who reassured him that the EU remains committed to the 2022 compromise agreement. Zhelyazkov emphasized:

Hate speech does not support integration. Dialogue must rest on the good neighbor agreement, and we will represent our national interest with restraint, but firmly.

Some of Bulgaria’s political elite now seem to be using the Hungarian prime minister’s international clout for domestic purposes,  while it was Viktor Orban who supported Bulgaria’s integration into Schengen through diplomatic channels.

Cover photo: Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban (Photo: MTI)