British diplomats have welcomed the move by EU leaders to block Hungary’s Viktor Orban from securing a key post, a rare check on the illiberal tide sweeping through parts of Europe. For those of us who watch the balance of power on the continent, it is a moment of relief. But we must not mistake it for a triumph. The real story here is not just about one man’s thwarted ambition. It is about the fragility of the rules that govern our continent and the failure of our own leaders to defend the values they claim to champion.
Orban, a man who has spent more than a decade hollowing out democratic institutions at home, was seen as a threat to the unity of the EU’s foreign policy. His close ties to Moscow and his baiting of Brussels have long made him a pariah among mainstream leaders. The decision to block him from the post of EU foreign affairs chief is a signal that the bloc will not reward those who undermine its founding principles. Yet, this is a small skirmish in a much larger war. The rise of nationalism and the erosion of liberal norms are not confined to Budapest. They are a sickness that has infected capitals across Europe, including London.
For the British people, this news might feel distant. The cost of living crisis, the struggle to pay bills, the grinding reality of wage stagnation – these are the battles that matter most. But the health of our democracy is not separate from the health of our economy. When authoritarianism rises, it is the poor and the working class who suffer first. Orban has used his power to suppress dissent, to control the media, and to enrich his cronies. The result has been a hollowing out of public services and a deepening of inequality. It is a warning from history that we ignore at our peril.
The British government’s support for the blockade is welcome, but it raises uncomfortable questions. How can we lecture Hungary on democratic backsliding when our own record on press freedom, union rights, and the treatment of asylum seekers is far from perfect? The Labour Party has rightly criticised the government for its own illiberal tendencies. The Rwanda deportation plan, the crackdown on protest, the attack on trade union rights – these are not the actions of a beacon of democracy.
What we need is a foreign policy that reflects the values we claim to hold. That means standing up for human rights and the rule of law not just in Budapest, but in Riyadh, Beijing, and yes, in London. It means recognising that the fight against authoritarianism begins at home. It means ensuring that the working people of this country have a voice in the decisions that affect their lives. Because if we do not, we will find that the Orban playbook is not as foreign as we think.
This small victory in Brussels is a start. But it is only that. The real work of protecting democracy and building a fairer economy lies ahead. And it is work that cannot be done by diplomats alone. It requires a movement that connects the struggle for justice in Europe with the struggle for justice in our own communities. The kitchen table and the negotiating table are not so far apart. They are both part of the same fight.
