Viktor Orbán Faces Scrutiny Over Budget, Campaign Finance, and EU Stance

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán faced a barrage of questions in Parliament on June 17, 2025, addressing concerns ranging from the national budget and campaign finance regulations to Hungary’s position on Ukraine’s potential EU membership [[1]]. The parliamentary session also saw heated exchanges regarding accusations of corruption and the financial dealings of orbán’s family.

Budget and Campaign Finance debates

The Hungarian Parliament convened to vote on the 2026 budget and a controversial proposal to abolish campaign finance limits. The need for a two-thirds majority underscored the meaning of these decisions. Opposition members voiced strong objections. Imre Komjathi of MSZP, criticized the government’s economic policies, arguing that exposing Hungarian workers to foreign investors was “all but not national.”

Orbán responded by asserting his government’s understanding of the country’s economic situation. He stated that poverty should be addressed through employment and fair wages,rather than attacking wealthy employers.

Did You Know? Hungary’s public debt reached 73.5% of GDP in 2024, exceeding the EU average of 71.7% [[2]].

Ukraine’s EU Membership and transcarpathia

László Toroczkai questioned Orbán about the “status of Transcarpathia” and support for Hungarian self-determination in the region, given the government’s opposition to Ukraine’s EU membership. Orbán affirmed Hungary’s commitment to supporting Hungarian autonomy abroad,as enshrined in the Basic Law. He reiterated his opposition to Ukraine’s EU accession and acknowledged that hungary has consistently vetoed new sanctions targeting Russian energy carriers, despite efforts by the European Commission to circumvent this veto.

Accusations of Family Enrichment

DK’s Kálmán Olga accused Orbán of presiding over a system were his family members became billionaires, extracting notable dividends from their companies. Orbán curtly replied, “I don’t deal with business.” When pressed about allegations that his brother, Áron orbán, was involved in smuggling, the Prime Minister directed the DK representative to contact the police.

Climate Law Controversy

Independent representative Bence Tordai highlighted the Constitutional Court’s recent annulment of the climate law, which had been substantially rewritten during the legislative process. Tordai inquired whether Fidesz would support a new climate law after the 2026 election,referring to Orbán as the leader of the largest opposition party.Orbán dismissed Tordai’s original proposal as “ass.”

Pro Tip: Stay informed about climate policy changes by consulting resources from organizations like the European Climate Foundation.

Political Campaigning and EU Concerns

Tamás menczer accused the Tisza Party of being a “Ukrainian,war party,” criticizing Peter Magyar for allegedly exploiting the horrors of war in a video. Menczer, along with Gergely Gulyás, argued that Ukraine’s EU membership would pose a significant threat to Hungary across various sectors.

Imre Vejkey and Pál Zsigmond Barna echoed these concerns, referring to the “implementation of the von der Leyen-Zelensky plan.”

Public Safety and Social Issues

György Lukács (Jobbik) raised concerns about deteriorating public safety, particularly in Eastern Hungary, citing drug-related crime and burglaries. Orbán countered by presenting declining criminal statistics and accusing Lukács of being “anti-police.” Dóra Dúró addressed Orbán regarding the harmful effects of excessive screen time for young children, to which Orbán expressed full agreement.