Amid EU censure, Orbán plans visit to Georgia to hold contested vote – POLITICO

However, Orbán got ahead of the game and congratulated Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and the Georgian Dream party for their “overwhelming victory” on Saturday, even before the election results were published.

“The people of Georgia know what is best for their country and today they made their voices heard!” Orbán wrote in X.

A senior Hungarian official confirmed to POLITICO on Sunday night that the trip would take place and Hungarian government spokesman Zoltan Kovacs. published in X that the “official visit” was organized at the request of Georgia. Orbán will be accompanied by Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó, Economy Minister Márton Nagy and Finance Minister Mihály Varga.

The visit will again highlight the stark differences in foreign policy between Orbán’s Hungary, which holds the six-month rotating presidency of the EU Council, and other countries in the bloc.

Orban sparked outrage among EU leaders during the summer with a series of “peace visits”” to Ukraine, Russia and China, during which He shook hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin..

Granted anonymity to speak candidly, a senior EU diplomat said Orbán’s trip to Georgia should be understood only as “another solo effort by Orbán, who is traveling in a national capacity and, as Council presidency, expressly does not speak on behalf of the European Union”. the outside world.”