What do Putin, Orban and Fico have in common? Two relatively small and economically weak countries like Hungary and Slovakia cannot be compared to hegemonic Russia. What is it, then, that makes them play on the same team?
If Herbert Kickl becomes chancellor in Austria, a fierce critic of arms supplies to Ukraine will for the first time hold a high office in a Western country. Kickl, who traditionally maintains good relations with Russia through his Freedom Party, founded the joint parliamentary group “Patriots for Europe“ in the European Parliament last summer together with the prime ministers of neighboring Hungary and Slovakia, Viktor Orban and Robert Fico. A soft tone and goodwill towards Russia are at the forefront of their agenda, writes the German “Welt am Sonntag“ in an extensive publication.
"Provocative condescension"
This means that soon at the EU summits there will be three heads of government showing provocative condescension towards the aggressor Putin and no less clear reservations towards Ukraine, the publication comments and recalls that there is a high probability that in the Czech Republic an openly pro-Russian party will win a decisive election victory - this is the right-wing populist “Ano“ of billionaire Andrej Babis. Thus, Putin can gain four of his admirers in Eastern and Central Europe - in the immediate vicinity of Germany, the media adds.
The German publication also recalls the story of the unexpected victory of the no less pro-Russian candidate Colin Georgescu in the first round of the presidential elections in Romania, which were subsequently annulled by the Constitutional Court due to massive agitation in his favor on the TikTok platform.
Putin and his imperialist military policy are gaining more and more supporters in Central and Eastern Europe, the publication of “Welt am Sonntag“ says further. This does not seem very logical, knowing how these nations suffered from Russian imperialism. The publication has in mind the bloody crushing of the popular uprisings in Hungary in 1956. and in Czechoslovakia in 1968, as well as the deployment of Soviet troops in Vienna and large parts of Austria until the declaration of neutrality in 1955. Therefore, people along the Danube and Vltava should know exactly what Russian domination means - just as people in the Baltic states or Poland know this perfectly well.
Anti-liberal politics
“Bratislava and Budapest will not dance to Kiev's tune“ - declared last Tuesday at a joint meeting the prime ministers of Hungary and Slovakia, Viktor Orbán and Robert Fico. It is known that they are frequent guests of Putin in Moscow. The two praise the construction of the “Turkish Stream“ gas pipeline, through which the two countries can continue to receive Russian gas, even after the transit through Ukraine was stopped at the beginning of the year.
However, fears of a possible energy crisis cannot be the only reason why such different alpha males as the anti-communist and Christian Orbán and the former communist, now socialist Fico, are so enthusiastic about Putin. After all, gas storage facilities are full everywhere. Even Austria, which remained dependent on Russian gas long after the war in Ukraine began, has nothing to worry about in this regard, the German publication emphasizes.
Rather, the explanation must be sought in the emotional closeness of Orbán and Fico to the authoritarian macho Putin, with whose tempting business models and hegemony the suffering Ukraine cannot compete with. Fico, who speaks fluent Russian and was tolerated by the Social Democrats in the European Parliament until the fall of 2023 despite his ultra-nationalist politics, called Ukrainians "Nazis and fascists," using Putin's jargon, before leaving for a pre-Christmas visit to Moscow in December, recalls "Welt am Sonntag."
What do Hungary, Slovakia and Russia have in common?
A look at the programs of the successful right-wing nationalist parties of Hungary and Slovakia makes it clear what Russian hegemony and the small states of the former Habsburg sphere of influence have in common: this is the illiberal politics of "strongmen." Orbán and Fico increasingly speak of the conservative values of the West. The opinion of many voters in Central and Eastern Europe about the supposedly decadent West with its multicultural metropolises and tolerance of sexual minorities clearly coincides with Putin's contempt for the "doomed West". This is especially strong in rural areas of eastern Slovakia or Hungary, located near the Ukrainian border.
With Donald Trump's return to the White House, the balance in Europe has shifted even further in a national-conservative direction. Austrian security experts believe that the influence of Russian money and agents will also grow in Vienna under a government of the Austrian Freedom Party. Kickl skillfully plays on the nostalgia of many Austrians, emphasizing the neutrality of the country, which is not a member of NATO, writes the German publication.
The balance of power in Europe is changing
At first glance, an alliance of several relatively small and economically weak countries could not seriously shake the axis against Putin in Europe. However, the balance of power could seriously change if Geert Wilders' people in the Netherlands were also included. It should also be taken into account that Meloni's coalition in Italy is favorable to Russia, while Belgium, France and Germany currently have no stable governing majorities.
Moscow will be happy to analyze the fact that the united front in the EU is shaken - therefore Putin can continue his aggressive war against Ukraine without any worries, "Welt am Sonntag" also points out.