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

There’s something in the air these days. Maybe it’s the election season 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 a 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 far deeper alliance—one that calls into question the very foundation of our Western partnership.

Budapest, the Epicenter of Power

We’ve seen it before, but never as clearly as right now. In recent days, the streets of Budapest have been filled with displays of support, almost making it feel like an alternative center of power within the EU. It’s not just the usual figures from Poland or Italian ministers showing up. No, it’s the American connection that’s really fueling the fire. You could call it the "America Last" movement, if you wanted to be a bit cheeky—a slogan that flips traditional U.S. 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 powerful faction on the American right has emerged, one that has long had a soft spot for strongmen—from Putin to Victor Orbán himself.

The Long-Running Romance

When you dig into the dynamics, this is about much more than a few campaign posters. It’s about an ideological romance that has been going on for decades. The American right has long had a strained relationship with the liberal world order that the U.S. itself helped build after World War II. Instead, they’ve looked to leaders who speak their language: culture wars, sovereignty above all else, and a deep skepticism toward 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’s gaining ground in several European countries.
• Trump’s open support: He’s made it a habit to meddle in European politics. He’s directly called for voting for Orbán, which is a pretty brazen interference in an ally’s internal affairs.
• The battle over values: For us here in Denmark, this is largely about which direction the EU should take. Are we going to see more of the Hungarian model, or are we going to stick to the principles of rule of law?

This is where the concept of "Behind the Illiberal Turn: Values in Central Europe" really comes into its own. It’s not just about taxes or the economy. It’s about 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 is selling 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 all happening far away. But in reality, it’s as close as the next EU election. The forces supporting Orbán have allies in our own parliament. The same arguments about sovereignty, about the "elite" in Brussels having seized power, keep popping up. And with explicit backing from powerful players in the U.S., it carries a whole different weight.

So we find ourselves in a situation where a decisive battle over Europe’s future is about 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 homelands," where the nation-state has the final say, and they’re not 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 might expect.