An activist and municipal councilor for a Hungarian opposition party caused a stir during a news conference in Strasbourg on Tuesday, where Prime Minister Viktor Orbán was outlining Hungary's plans for its six-month presidency of the European Union.
The activist, a member of Hungary’s Democratic Coalition party, interrupted Orbán's speech by approaching the podium and throwing a stack of banknotes at the prime minister, questioning his alleged ties to leaders of Russia and China.
Orbán, known for his anti-immigration stance and criticized for his government's perceived erosion of democratic rights, is set to address the European Parliament during Hungary's presidency of the EU.
The disruption led to the activist being escorted out of the room by security guards. The incident was later praised by the president of the Democratic Coalition party on social media.
Orbán, who has faced scrutiny from EU lawmakers over rule-of-law and corruption concerns, is expected to face a mixed reception in the European Parliament. Despite past criticism, Orbán has managed to form a far-right group within the parliament, positioning it as the third-largest group in the EU legislature.
During the news conference, Orbán expressed concerns about the EU's economic competitiveness compared to the United States and China. He criticized EU tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles and raised objections to immigration policies affecting the Schengen area.
Orbán proposed a regular “Schengen Summit” for member countries to discuss border policies, emphasizing the need for a collective decision on the matter.
In response to the disruption, Orbán offered a cultural perspective, stating that in Hungarian political culture, calling someone a scoundrel simply signifies disagreement.
