Victor Orbán and the March of Right-Wing Populism Across Europe: What Does His Support Mean for Denmark?

There’s something in the air these days. Perhaps it’s the election campaigns about to sweep across Europe, but when you look at Budapest right now, it’s hard to ignore the symbolic weight. Victor Orbán is no longer just Hungary’s prime minister; he has become a rallying point for an entire movement that stretches from Washington D.C. to Brussels. And it’s not just the usual European nationalists who have made their way to the Hungarian capital to show their support. No, if you look closer, this is about a much deeper alliance that calls into question the very foundation of our Western partnership.

Budapest, the epicentre of power

We’ve seen this before, but never as clearly as now. In recent days, Budapest’s streets have been filled with declarations of support, almost making the city feel like an alternative power centre within the EU. It’s not just the usual suspects from Poland or Italian ministers showing up. No, it’s the American connection that’s really igniting things. You could call it the "America Last" movement, if you want to be a bit cheeky—a slogan that flips traditional US foreign policy on its head. Because that’s exactly what’s at stake here. While a majority in Washington has historically seen Europe as a natural ally, a strong faction on the American right has emerged, one that has had a soft spot for strongmen for decades—from Putin to Victor Orbán.

The history of a long romance

When you understand the dynamics, this is about much more than a few campaign posters. It’s about an ideological romance that has been brewing for decades. The American right has long had a strained relationship with the liberal world order that the US itself helped build after World War II. Instead, they have looked towards leaders who speak their language: culture wars, sovereignty above all else, and a deep scepticism of what they call "globalism."

• The ideological kinship: This isn’t just political tactics. There’s a genuine fascination with Orbán’s "illiberal democracy"—a model that is gaining traction in several European countries.
• Trump’s open support: He has made it a sport to interfere in European politics. He has directly urged people to vote for Orbán, which is a pretty blatant intervention in an ally’s internal affairs.
• The battle over values: For us here in Denmark, this is very much about which direction the EU should take. Should we embrace more of the Hungarian model, or should we hold firm to the principles of the rule of law?

This is where the concept of "Behind the Illiberal Turn: Values in Central Europe" truly comes into its own. It’s not just a question of taxes or economics. It’s a question of what we define as our core values. Orbán has built a narrative that he is protecting Europe from outside forces, both physically and culturally. That narrative sells like hotcakes to a growing group of voters—and not just in Hungary.

What does this mean for us in Denmark?

You might think this is happening far away. But in reality, it’s as close as the next European elections. The forces that support Orbán have allies in our own parliament. The same arguments about sovereignty, about the "elite" in Brussels having seized power, are echoed here. And with the explicit backing of powerful forces in the US, it carries a whole different weight.

So, we find ourselves in a situation where a decisive battle over Europe’s future is set to be fought. One side dreams of a strong, federal Europe based on liberal values. The other side, with Victor Orbán as its standard-bearer, dreams of a "Europe of nations" where the nation-state has the final say, and they aren’t shy about drawing inspiration from across the Atlantic. It’s going to be an intense election campaign, and it will undoubtedly shape the political agenda in Denmark far more than we currently expect.