Reflecting on the achievements of the presidency, the prime minister declared that it marked the beginning of a new era for Europe and the Western world, a shift he attributed to efforts by Hungary, Donald Trump, and the Patriots for Europe working to reshape global structures. He emphasized that this time marks the second phase of the ideological and geopolitical struggle for Europe’s future.
Prime Minister Orbán outlined four critical areas shaping this transformation: geopolitics, economic competition, governance models, and identity. He described a global scene where the “big players” are securing their spheres of influence, citing conflicts like the war in Ukraine, the tensions in the South China Sea, and debates over Greenland and Taiwan as evidence of geopolitical realignment. While powers like the United States and China prepare for the future, PM Orbán criticized Brussels for failing to even begin the process of preparation. The European Union, he argued, is consumed by ideological distractions rather than addressing the pressing need for competitiveness and security.
A key critique focused on what PM Orbán called “woke capitalism.” The prime minister argued that liberal Western leaders prioritize diversity propaganda over economic productivity, resulting in rising inflation, deindustrialization, and plummeting wages. He highlighted that while Europe lags, countries like China are shifting to high-value industries such as artificial intelligence and electromobility, and the United States has begun pivoting under a new patriotic economic strategy. According to Prime Minister Orbán, this divergence threatens to leave the EU as a bystander in the global race for technological and economic dominance.
PM Orbán further contended that the EU has isolated itself from key global players. He reprimanded Brussels of alienating the United States by demonizing incoming President Donald Trump, creating tensions with China by declaring it a “systemic rival,” and severing ties with Russia without securing viable alternatives for energy security. He also pointed to Africa, where the EU’s insistence on promoting gender and LGBTQ+ ideologies as conditions for cooperation has hindered productive relationships.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Orbán highlighted Hungary’s successes during its presidency, including fostering pragmatic partnerships with the new U.S. administration, maintaining energy cooperation with Russia, and attracting nearly half of Chinese high-tech investments in Europe.
The prime minister linked the EU’s failures to what he described as hypocrisy and the dominance of a Brussels-based oligarchy. Namely, Brussels has become a progressive-liberal power bloc, detached from European citizens and hostile to national sovereignty. “The European Union is sick,” PM Orbán stated. “The European Union cannot guarantee peace and security, fails to ensure prosperity, and struggles with illegal migration. These symptoms make it the sick man of Europe today.”
Prime Minister Orbán stressed that Hungary’s policies differ fundamentally from the EU’s trajectory. Guided by national interests and a commitment to sovereignty, Hungary has focused on strengthening family policies, reducing energy costs, and modernizing its economy. During the presidency, Hungary also initiated efforts to integrate the Balkans into the EU, launched discussions on demographic challenges, and established the Patriots for Europe political group to represent sovereignty-focused nations in the European Parliament.
Concluding his speech, PM Orbán emphasized, “The second phase of the struggle for Europe’s future begins now.” He asserted that Hungary’s presidency had exposed the weaknesses of Brussels while demonstrating the strength of a sovereignty-driven model. As Europe enters a decisive period of transformation, the prime minister affirmed Hungary’s commitment to standing firm in defending sovereignty, identity, and pragmatic governance.