In a provocative move, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has launched a rhetorical attack on European values, labeling the EU’s liberal democracy as a relic of the past. Calling for a “Make Europe Great Again” (MEGA) movement, Orbán’s government has initiated a series of nationalistic and anti-immigrant initiatives, further dividing the European Union.
MEGA is a thinly veiled reference to the popularity of President Trump’s “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) slogan, which has become a symbol of his nationalist and populist agenda. Orbán’s appropriation of the phrase is seen as a deliberate attempt to rally support for his own hard-right ideology, which has been met with criticism from many EU member states.
The Hungarian government’s MEGA campaign has been accompanied by a surge in anti-immigrant and anti-EU rhetoric, with Orbán claiming that the EU’s open-door policy on immigration is a threat to Hungarian culture and identity. The campaign has been met with disdain from many European leaders, including Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, who has expressed concern over the rise of nationalist sentiments in the region.
The implications of Orbán’s MEGA campaign are far-reaching, potentially undermining the EU’s values of tolerance, inclusivity, and human rights. The campaign has also sparked concerns over the erosion of democratic norms, as Orbán’s government has been accused of stifling media freedom and restricting the rights of civil society.
The European Union’s response to the MEGA campaign has been lukewarm, with many member states hesitant to confront the Hungarian government over its aggressive nationalism. However, pressure is growing from within the EU to take a stronger stance against Orbán’s government, which is seen as a threat to the very fabric of European integration. As the EU faces a series of challenges, from Brexit to the rise of the far-right, the Hungarian government’s MEGA campaign has highlighted the need for a more robust defense of EU values and principles.
