{"id":903453,"date":"2026-05-04T07:13:36","date_gmt":"2026-05-04T12:13:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/04\/polish-government-pm-orban-is-the-most-corrupt-and-pro-putin-politician-in-europe\/"},"modified":"2026-05-04T07:13:36","modified_gmt":"2026-05-04T12:13:36","slug":"polish-government-pm-orban-is-the-most-corrupt-and-pro-putin-politician-in-europe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/04\/polish-government-pm-orban-is-the-most-corrupt-and-pro-putin-politician-in-europe\/","title":{"rendered":"Polish government: PM Orb\u00e1n is the most corrupt and pro-Putin politician in Europe"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Poland\u2019s President Karol Nawrocki met Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orb\u00e1n in Budapest on Monday, triggering criticism from Poland\u2019s pro-EU government, which warned the visit risks undermining European unity and benefiting Russia.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Polish government does not understand why Nawrocki came to Budapest<\/h2>\n

The meeting between the two nationalist, Eurosceptic leaders took place behind closed doors and was not followed by any joint press conference or public statement, Polish broadcaster RMF FM reported. Prime Minister Donald Tusk described the visit as \u201ca fatal mistake and confirmation of a dangerous strategy to weaken the EU and strengthen Putin,\u201d as tensions between Poland\u2019s presidency and government again came into view, the Turkish Anadolu news agency wrote<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Criticism intensified over the weekend after news emerged that Nawrocki would travel to Budapest on Polish-Hungarian Friendship Day, an annual event marking historical ties between the two countries. Foreign Minister Rados\u0142aw Sikorski questioned the rationale behind the visit, pointing to Orb\u00e1n\u2019s stance on Russia. \u201cI\u2019d like to know what Poland\u2019s interest is in supporting the most corrupt and pro-Putin politician in Europe,\u201d Sikorski said, referring to the Hungarian leader\u2019s repeated blocking of EU sanctions on Moscow.<\/p>\n

Government figures also suggested the visit could be interpreted as indirect support for Orban\u2019s ruling Fidesz party ahead of parliamentary elections scheduled for next month.<\/p>\n

No endorsement for Orb\u00e1n<\/h2>\n

Nawrocki did not publicly endorse Orb\u00e1n during his visit. Earlier in the day, speaking alongside Hungarian President Tam\u00e1s Sulyok in Poland<\/a>, Nawrocki stressed that Warsaw and Budapest do not align on all issues. \u201cFor Poland, Vladimir Putin and Russia pose an existential threat,\u201d he said. \u201cPoles love Hungarians and hate Vladimir Putin, who is a war criminal and nothing more.\u201d The remarks appeared aimed at distancing himself from Orb\u00e1n\u2019s more conciliatory approach toward Moscow. At the same time, Nawrocki noted areas of alignment with Hungary, including opposition to certain EU climate and migration policies.<\/p>\n

\"Polish
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orb\u00e1n<\/strong> (R), Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni<\/strong> (R2) and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk<\/strong> (L) pose for a family photo during an EU summit at the European Council building in Brussels, Belgium, on March 19, 2026. Source: Anadolu\/Dursun Aydemir<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Relations between Poland and Hungary \u2014 once close allies within the EU \u2014 have cooled since Russia\u2019s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Poland has become one of Kyiv\u2019s strongest supporters, while Hungary has repeatedly clashed with Brussels over sanctions on Russia. Nawrocki himself had previously cancelled a planned meeting with Orb\u00e1n last year after the Hungarian leader traveled to Moscow.<\/p>\n

Polish leadership divided<\/h2>\n

Nawrocki is aligned with the national-conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party, which governed Poland from 2015 to 2023 and traditionally maintained close ties with Orb\u00e1n\u2019s Fidesz. Those relations were strained after the outbreak of war in Ukraine, but have recently shown signs of recovery.<\/p>\n

Orb\u00e1n and Nawrocki on Monday in Budapest: no joint press conference, no endorsement. Just a sharp message to Russia\u2019s Putin:<\/strong><\/p>\n

The visit highlights ongoing divisions within Poland\u2019s leadership: the government seeks to reinforce ties with Brussels, while the presidency signals openness to cooperation with like-minded conservative governments in Central Europe.<\/p>\n

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