Overview

• Viktor Orbán referred to his political opponents as 'insects' and announced a 'spring cleaning' campaign targeting media, NGOs, and judiciary in a speech marking Hungary's National Day.
• Orbán accused critics of being funded by 'corrupt dollars' and pledged to dismantle what he called a 'shadow army' working against Hungary's interests.
• The speech drew sharp criticism from the International Auschwitz Committee, which condemned the rhetoric as hateful and reminiscent of historical antisemitism.
• Orbán faces growing domestic pressure from Péter Magyar, a former ally turned opposition leader, whose party is polling ahead of Orbán's Fidesz ahead of the 2026 elections.
• The European Union has frozen some funds to Hungary over concerns about media freedom and rule of law, which Orbán dismisses as a conspiracy against him.