"Hungary's Viktor Orban has long been criticized for his authoritarian leanings and erosion of democratic institutions, but a closer look at the European Union itself reveals a more complex picture. The EU's own history of illiberal tendencies and militaristic tendencies has provided a fertile ground for leaders like Orban to flourish. From the EU's early days of economic integration to its current push for a more robust defense policy, the bloc has often walked a fine line between promoting democratic values and accommodating the interests of its member states. As tensions rise between the EU and Hungary over issues like media freedom and migrant policy, it's clear that the bloc's own contradictions are giving Orban a powerful platform to pursue his own brand of nationalism."
Viktor Orban’s stepping stone – the EU’s own illiberal tendencies and militarism - is still very much present.
