European far-right leaders gathered in Budapest on March 23 to show support for Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban ahead of the April 12 parliamentary elections, which are widely seen as a test of his political influence in Europe.  

The event, organised by the Patriots for Europe group founded by Orban and his allies in 2024, brought together leaders from 13 EU countries, including Marine Le Pen of France, Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, and Geert Wilders of the Netherlands. Speakers praised Orban’s stance on national sovereignty, immigration, and conservative values, and urged Hungarian voters to back his Fidesz party.

Orban’s keynote address showcased the familiar rhetoric of Hungary’s long-serving leader, as he faces what is shaping up to be the most challenging election campaign of his career.

"We intend to occupy and reshape the Brussels centre. We want a union that is an alliance of sovereign nations. We do not want a federation. We want sovereign, proud European nations," he said.

Orban and his allies signalled that they aim to extend their influence across Europe, positioning the upcoming European parliamentary elections in 2029 as a milestone for nationalist-conservative forces.

He said that by the end of the decade, the Patriots wanted all of Europe to be adorned in national and conservative colours. "This will be the greatest political realignment in the history of the European Union. Those you see here today will be the leaders of the EU in three years' time," he declared.

Le Pen called the Hungarian vote a historic moment, describing Hungary as a symbol of resistance and sovereignty in Europe under Orban’s leadership. Matteo Salvini hailed the Hungarian premier as a hero and praised Hungary’s defence of national identity, Christian values, and family traditions. Salvini also emphasised the election as a choice for Hungary’s self-determination rather than submission to Brussels.

Analysts note that Orban has long used state resources to support far-right networks across Europe, with strong ties to former US President Donald Trump and the MAGA movement, hence the outcome of the vote could have a wider repercussion on the European landscape.

The forthcoming Hungarian elections come amid domestic difficulties, including economic stagnation, pressure on social services, and corruption allegations, casting doubt on whether Orban’s 16-year tenure and his wider influence within Europe’s far-right movement can be sustained. Orban is also facing allegations of Russian interference after recent reports. 

The Washington Post, citing documents from European intelligence agencies, said Russia’s SVR has weighed using a stated assassination attempt to sway the election in his favour. The same report also unveiled that Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto regularly contacted his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov during breaks in EU meetings to brief him on the talks, sharing sensitive information.

Orban, during the day, hosted the Polish president in his office after Karol Nawrocki met with his Hungarian counterpart, Tamas Sulyok, in Premsy, marking the Polish-Hungarian Friendship Day. Sulyok described the Polish-Hungarian friendship as a core element of both nations’ cultures, rooted in shared Christian values and independent of current political orientations.