Deutsch: Brussels reactions to Orbán’s ‘peace mission’ critical, offensive, hysterical

He told public radio that one of the reasons was that the majority of European leaders were pro-war and wanted to send increasing amounts of weapons and money to Ukraine.

The other reason was that their pro-war position was based on the assumption that the only way to peace is war, he added.

“The Hungarian prime minister’s mission has refuted and destroyed that position,” he said.

Orbán’s peace mission “has shown that active diplomatic steps can be made” to promote peace, Deutsch said. He expressed hope that the peace mission would direct the large powers towards peace.

He also said that the European Parliament elections showed that a sovereigntist, patriotic trend was under way in the world.

The Fidesz MEP said that the formation of the Patriots for Europe group in the EP demonstrated a “victory at the European level”, noting that it was the third strongest formation in the EP.

In response to a question, he said there was a realistic chance that Donald Trump would win in the US, and this would bring about a sovereigntist, patriotic turn in world politics, in turn bringing an end to the Ukraine war closer.

He said the Patriots for Europe group could further strengthen in the upcoming period, and added that what was even more important was that serious and effective strategic cooperation could develop with the group of European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) led by Giorgia Meloni, resulting in the second largest force in the EP.

He said chances were good for patriots to win in the Czech Republic and Austria, and within six months or a year a new parliamentary election might be held in France, where Marine Le Pen could come out as a governing force.

He said right wing progress could develop also in the European Council. It was uncertain whether Ursula von der Leyen would get the necessary support to head the European Commission again, and there could be certainly a reshuffle among the commissioners, he added.