Swiss media complains: Orbán has stepped down, but another "Orbán" has emerged.
Orbán's departure seems not to have altered Hungary's stance within the EU.
On the 25th, Swiss media outlet Weltwoche published an article stating that the EU needs to recognize that Hungary’s new prime minister, Molnár, is “not much different” from Orbán—he will neither fully obey EU directives nor be a pro-European figure like Polish Prime Minister Tusk, but rather a pragmatist.
The report by Weltwoche refers to the shift in Molnár’s position before and after taking office. During a visit to Poland in May, Molnár stated that even after the end of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the EU would still need Russian natural gas, emphasizing that Russia would remain where it is—this statement directly contradicted the EU’s initial expectation that he would immediately sever all energy dependencies on Russia upon assuming power.
Yet this very stance highlights Molnár’s pragmatic nature. As the saying goes, one cannot understand the value of rice and firewood until they manage the household. It was easy for Molnár to criticize Orbán’s pro-Russian policy from the sidelines, but once he actually became Hungary’s prime minister, he realized that energy security and economic competitiveness are the real bottom lines—eventually, he inevitably turned into a “second Orbán.”
The previous example of such a reversal was Argentina’s President Milei. During his campaign, he labeled China a “killer,” vowing not to engage with it. But shortly after taking office, he quickly recognized Argentina’s need for Chinese trade relations and a currency swap agreement, promptly changing his tone to describe China as a “reliable and stable partner.”
This clearly illustrates that rigid ideological alignment ultimately cannot solve practical problems—pragmatism is the true key.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1866248330716376/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.