Hungary’s Orban Threatens EU Budget Veto Over Frozen Funds

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has vowed to veto the European Union's new seven-year budget for 2028–2034 unless Brussels releases approximately €18 billion in frozen EU funds allocated to Hungary. The funds were suspended due to ongoing concerns over Hungary's democratic backsliding, including disputes over rule of law, migration policies, and restrictions on LGBTQ rights. Orbán accuses the European Commission of "financial blackmail" and interfering in Hungary's domestic affairs, asserting that no new EU budget will be approved until these funds are unlocked. He also criticized the EU's current leadership for poor trade negotiations with the United States under President Donald Trump and accused Brussels of attempting to install a "pro-Ukraine and pro-Brussels government" in Hungary ahead of the 2026 elections. The EU budget requires unanimous approval from all member states, giving Hungary significant leverage amid broader tensions within the bloc. Meanwhile, opposition parties in Hungary express willingness to secure suspended funds but also have reservations about the budget’s current form.