Hate is a very strong word but it simply means “intense dislike for” and Viktor Orban brings out the “intense dislike” in me. So here are 10 things I hate about Orban.
1. He squandered a once in a lifetime opportunity
So far, Orban has been in power for 19 years. This is a crazy amount of time. Most Prime Ministers/Presidents are happy to get two terms — Orban has had five! While politicians often use the excuse that they didn’t fix something big because they only had 3-4 years in power, Orban has had two decades and has still failed to get any major reforms done.
He has not used that ocean of time to fix any of the things that really count: Healthcare, education, the economy, better retirement pensions, stopping your best and brightest from leaving, increasing salaries, and setting up Hungarian industry for long-term success.
What the hell has he been doing this whole time?
This failure is particular egregious because he’s not only had time on his side, but he’s also had the broad support of the community, no opposition (external or internal) biting at his heals, and billions of euros from the EU that if managed properly could have transformed the country.
While Orban could have seized this unique moment to set the country up for long-term success, instead it’s now clear that it will take 10-20 years of good governance to repair the damage he’s done in allowing the these key functions to rot.
To me, this is the worst crime. And what a waste.
2. He's a phoney and a fraud
Orban’s genesis story is that he gave this speech in 1989 where he bravely told the Russians to get out of Hungary and go back from whence they came. This took a lot of courage as free political speech was not possible during communism, and people were impressed to their core that this 26-year-old lad was so brave.
Except that it seems it might have been all fake. Some analysts now thing he knew that he wasn’t going to get shot or imprisoned — change was already underway.
Ever since then he has continued the act. “I’m just this simple guy living off my parliamentary salary” (while my kids, college dorm mates and dad become gazillionaires). “I’m the protector of Hungarian sovereignty” (while i’m in Putin’s pocket and my country isn’t sovereign at all). “I’m just this village kid at heart” (but you wouldn’t catch my kids or grandkids doing Hungarian folk dancing as they’re way too cool for that). “I’m anti-immigration” (just ignore the fact that I’ve allowed in tens of thousands of cheap Asian migrant workers in who are suppressing Hungarian wages further).
This guy deserves all the Oscars….
3. He's a traitor
I don’t say this lightly, but I’ve believed for some years now that Orban has tratorous tendencies. Let me put it like this: What kind of Patriot steals money from their own people? What kind of Patriot is not given intelligence by allies because he’s known to be a mole for Russia? What kind of Patriot allows their Foreign Minister to accept the Order of Friendship from Russia AFTER they know that Russia’s intelligence services had hacked into the IT systems of Hungary’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade?
And what kind of Patriot allows their people to slip into poverty while enriching their college dorm mates, dad, kids, and associates?
Who does that? A traitor… seems to fit the bill.
4. He's made his nepo babies rich
During Orban’s tenure, his childhood pal electrician Lőrinc Mészáros has made literally billions of dollars. His son-in-law has become one of the richest people in Hungary (despite showing no talent at money-making before marrying well). His daughters fly around on private jets and carry Hermès Kelly bags worth tens of thousands of euros.
Statesman don’t enrich their families and even those politicians that are corrupt at least have the good sense to ask their families to lay low on the luxe front. But Orban — and his family — are totally shameless.
They could not give a f*ck. They know that their stolen wealth has never stopped their dad from being elected so why bother hiding it? What galls me most is that even though Peter Magyar’s Tisza Party is ahead in the polls, he still can’t bring himself to ask his kids to reign it in a bit.
You need only watch The Dynasty documentary to get an idea of the immense wealth Orban’s allowed his nepo babies to accrue.
At least Orban himself has the good sense to lie and claim that he only lives off his salary and only has a modest property portfolio, but those closest thim tell a different story and we all know that ultimately the ultimate beneficial owner of all that wealth is Orban himself.
5. He acts like he owns the place
Whatever he wants, he gets. That’s one of the messages in the 10 out of 10 Majka rap song about Orban’s corruption (17 million views and counting by the way).
You might not want to apportion blame to one single person for the state of healthcare, schools, economy etc. but Orban runs the place like he owns the place. Most people recognise that Fidesz = Orban and therefore the Government = Orban.
Ultimately, nothing stood in the way of Orban fixing any of the major issues plaguing Hungary. But he chose not to. Instead he focused on building sports stadiums, stealing money, antagonising his allies, changing the laws and the constitution to suit him, creating a propaganda machine to win him elections, stoking culture wars, and demonising people like George Soros.
None of these things have helped Hungary or the Hungarians. And Hungary is not his. He’s meant to be serving us not the other way around.
6. He's not a statesman but fakes it well
People love that Orban speaks like a statesman. He does speak well. They love his reassuring rhetoric, his soothing voice, his non-stop claims that improvements are just around the corner, and him positioning Hungary well above its station in life.
But in my view a statesman is more than just “sound like one” — it’s rather more important to actually be one, right?
A true statesman sets their country up for long-term success, which includes a thriving opposition where people in power a held to account. A true statesman works like the devil to ensure that the services his people need are there. A true statesman doesn’t steal from his own people. A true statesman recognises the importance of the press as the fourth estate and answers tough questions. A true statesman is a man of the people for the people.
Don’t fall for his ability to give statesman-like speeches.
7. His family-friendly government talk is a sham
Orban is always banging on about how his Fidesz government prioritises the traditional family unit and the importance of children above all else. One of his slogans is that his government is the most family-friendly of all.
But this is while his chosen President gave clemency to someone who protected a pedophile. This is while fewer children are born in Hungary than ever before. This is while the most vulnerable kids live in moldy care homes. This is while he has left schools and hospitals to rot — things that, you know, families tend to need. This is while grandparents miss out on seeing their grandkids because they have moved abroad for better opportunities.
Just like with so many things, Orban is all talk — but the substance just isn’t there.
8. He's taken opportunities from Hungarians
Here’s an example: Did you know that the EU cancelled the Erasmus program in Hungary due to Orban’s bad behaviour? This program enabled Hungarian university kids to study abroad and vice versa. Needless to say Erasmus was a huge opportunity for Hungarians, and it’s been stripped from them. What a jerk!
Beyond that, there are countless examples of people missing out on business opportunities, the lease of government-owned retail spaces, winning government tenders all because they weren’t in Fidesz circles.
9. He can't get on with his team mates
Whether you like them or not, Hungary is part of the European Union and NATO. But Orban is constantly bitching and moaning about them. In fact, it’s gotten to the point where the European Union has withheld funds from Hungary due to Hungary not playing by the rules. It’s also reported that NATO countries don’t share intelligence with Hungary because they’re worried Orban will run off and tell the Russians.
This is ridiculous. Orban: If you hate the EU and NATO so much — just leave. See how you go outside of these umbrellas. But of course, he doesn’t actually want to leave he just wants to white ant them from the inside.
10. He doesn't want a country with checks and balances
A leader who truly wants the best for their country in the long run knows that there must be a thriving opposition, a free media and an independent judiciary. This is Civics 101.
But Orban wants to degrade all of this, and he’d like to be the boss of everything forever. For example, instead of fighting the opposition leader Peter Magyar on policies and experience levels he’s referred to him as a bug (“poloska”) and claimed that anyone in opposition to Fidesz is actually anti-Hungary.
His basic tenet seems to be that there is no way to be in opposition to Fidesz without being a traitor and mercenary for Soros. That’s ridiculous and also dangerous. Democracies only work when the various parties recognise the role they all play in a parliamentary democracy.
Orban probably knows if the fight was purely about policies, he would lose in a landslide, so he’d rather discredit the opposition with lies that have a fair fight.
Other articles you might like...
Here’s why people love Orban
To understand Hungarian politics the first thing you must understand is why people love Orban. Because he’s not a dictator. For many, he’s a beloved father figure.
9 signals that Orban is in trouble
In 2024 and 2025, many signs indicate that Fidesz is in big trouble. Whether it comes true at the elections – time will tell – but for now here are some of the signals that don’t look good for Orban.
2024 was Orban’s annus horribilis
Queen Elizabeth II called 1992 her annus horribilis. Here’s why Orban may feel the same way about 2024.