Erdogan claims that EU wants to take down Hungary from presidency

(MENAFN) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan alleged on Sunday that the European Union is actively exploring options to remove Hungary from its presidency due to Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s recent “peace mission” concerning Ukraine. As the current holder of the six-month rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union, Hungary is responsible for shaping the bloc’s political direction and priorities.

Orban launched his so-called Ukraine ‘peace mission’ earlier this month, aiming to mediate the conflict by engaging with key global players: Ukraine, Russia, China, the European Union, and the United States. His efforts included a controversial meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, which sparked significant backlash from European Union leaders.

Erdogan recounted his own encounter with Orban during a NATO summit in Washington earlier this month. According to Erdogan, Orban had shared his intention to also meet with United States presidential candidate Donald Trump. Following Orban’s diplomatic engagements, European Union officials began a wave of criticism against him. The European Parliament condemned Orban’s Moscow visit, labeling it a “blatant violation” of the European Union’s treaties and common foreign policy. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also denounced the visit, characterizing it as an “appeasement mission.”

Erdogan’s comments highlight the growing tensions between Hungary and other European Union member states over Orban’s independent diplomatic actions and the broader implications for the European Union’s unity and foreign policy.

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