Vlaams Belang chairman blames economy and EU sanctions for Orbán defeat
According to Vlaams Belang Chairman Tom Van Grieken, Viktor Orbán did not lose Hungary’s parliamentary elections on Sunday because of his core policies, but because of the economy, inflation, and European sanctions. Van Grieken said this on Monday in De Afspraak on VRT Canvas. His party and Orbán’s Fidesz sit in the same group in the European Parliament.
Van Grieken acknowledged that Orbán suffered a heavy defeat after 16 years in power, but argued that the vote was not a rejection of his policies. Instead, he pointed to economic factors and growing criticism of the prime minister personally, including allegations of corruption. “Corruption is unacceptable,” he said.
He also described the visit by US Vice President JD Vance on the eve of the elections as “completely out of place”. “We have lost an ally in the European Union, but the European Union sees an opponent disappear,” Van Grieken added, stating that the result could clear the way for a 90 billion EUR European loan for Ukraine that Orbán had previously vetoed.
Despite the setback, Van Grieken insisted that the radical right in Europe remains in a “winning mood”.
Pressure on allies
Orbán’s defeat is widely seen as a blow to the European radical right. His challenger, Péter Magyar, secured a landslide victory with the Tisza party, ending more than a decade and a half of Orbán’s rule.
Within Vlaams Belang, reactions were initially cautious. Several party members were present in Budapest on election night, while Van Grieken described the result as “unjustified” on social media, calling it “a black day for real Europe”. In earlier remarks, he had portrayed Orbán as a “victim of European blackmail and European propaganda”, while taking a more measured stance on corruption, noting that “power corrupts after so many years in power”.
Other politicians were more outspoken. Theo Francken (N-VA) sharply criticised Orbán over his ties with Russia and his opposition to EU support for Ukraine, calling him “a traitor”. Francken also described the visit by US Vice President JD Vance ahead of the vote as a “kiss of death”, suggesting that overt backing from the US MAGA movement can harm candidates in European elections.
Senior Vlaams Belang figure Gerolf Annemans took a longer-term view, arguing that Orbán had played a key role in shaping the European radical right and that the broader movement would continue to evolve. He pointed to upcoming elections in France and the influence of leaders such as Giorgia Meloni as signs that the political current remains resilient despite recent losses.
#FlandersNewsService | Chairman of Vlaams Belang party Tom van Grieken addresses the audience during the first Patriotic Rally at the Millenaris Cultural Center in Budapest, Hungary, March 23, 2026, a key campaign event that took place ahead of the April elections. © PHOTO ATILLA KISBENEDEK / AFP
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