Hungary as honest broker
On July 1, Viktor聽Orb谩n went beyond being merely the president of Hungary with its nearly 10 million people. He took over the rotating presidency of the European Union with its 448 million people. A day later, his moment of greater power led him to take on greater responsibility: Mr. Orb谩n visited President Volodymyr聽Zelenskyy in Ukraine.
The trip was a symbol of inclusion, dignity, and respect for Ukrainians. Again and again since the Russian invasion, Mr. Orb谩n has opposed EU support for the embattled country, often siding with Russian President Vladimir Putin. On July 2, one day into his six-month role as EU leader, Mr. Orb谩n took his first trip to Ukraine since the war started.
He promised to report to other EU leaders about his talks 鈥渟o that the necessary European decisions can be taken.鈥� For his part, Mr. Zelenskyy聽said the visit was 鈥渁 clear indication of our common European priorities, of how important it is to bring a just peace to Ukraine.鈥�
Mr. Orb谩n has defied the EU on many issues other than Ukraine, but his assent to the bloc鈥檚 presidency helped change his tune. The job requires that a country taking on the role must be an 鈥渉onest broker鈥� among the 27 member states to facilitate agreements.
The European Council鈥檚 website compares the president to 鈥渟omeone hosting a dinner, making sure their guests all gather in harmony 鈥� able to express differences during the meal but leaving on good terms and with a common purpose.鈥�
For the next six months, Mr. Orb谩n will be setting the broad agenda for the EU 鈥� but with the need to seek consensus. His stated top priority is to increase the competitiveness of EU businesses.
The EU鈥檚 democratic procedures, based on shared principles, have a way of reducing polarization. 鈥淭his is an extraordinary situation, with a war in the neighbourhood, when we have to provide stability,鈥� J谩nos B贸ka, Hungary鈥檚 European affairs minister, told reporters in June.聽 With his visit to Kyiv, one of Mr. Orb谩n鈥檚 first acts as EU president was to stabilize his country鈥檚 ties with a country on track to becoming an EU member.
