Hungary's Orban says EU bigger threat than Russia before April elections

"Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban says his country should fear the European Union more than Russia while promising to clear away the EU's oppressive machinery before what looks will be heated parliamentary elections. Delivering his annual state-of-the-nation speech on Saturday, Orban pledged to push out the foreign influence that limits our sovereignty together with its agents as the opposition Tisza Party maintains an 8 to 12 percentage point lead over Orban's ruling Fidesz party eight weeks from the April 12 elections."

"Fear-mongering about [Russian President Vladimir] Putin is primitive and unserious. Brussels, however, is a palpable reality and a source of imminent danger, said the 62-year-old leader, who compared the EU to the repressive Soviet regime that dominated Hungary for decades last century. Since returning to power for a second time in 2010, Orban has waged a campaign against pseudo-civil organisations, bought journalists, judges and politicians in his drive to build what he calls an illiberal state."

Viktor Orban declared that Hungary should fear the European Union more than Russia and vowed to clear away what he described as the EU's oppressive machinery before heated parliamentary elections. He pledged to push out foreign influence and its agents while acknowledging the opposition Tisza Party holds an 8 to 12 point lead eight weeks before the April 12 vote. Orban compared the EU to the repressive Soviet regime and highlighted his campaign since 2010 against pseudo-civil organisations, and efforts to build an illiberal state, including media and judicial influence. He cited Donald Trump's endorsement and faces a visit from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Read at www.aljazeera.com