The leader of the far-right in France Marine Le Pen lamented on Monday "the expressed satisfaction by the European Commission" over the defeat of her friend and political ally Viktor Orban, whom she praised for "courageously and determinedly defending the freedom and sovereignty of Hungary for 16 years."
"Despite the grotesque accusations of dictatorship that the government of Viktor Orban has been accused of for years, democratic Hungary has chosen change," acknowledged Le Pen, who campaigned alongside Orban just two weeks ago, highlighting him as "a visionary and above all a pioneer."
Following his defeat, Le Pen has lost a financial supporter and a strategic ally in her ambition to create a "qualified majority" of the far-right in Europe, in the countdown to elections that could shape the future in countries like France, Italy, and Spain over the next year.
The leader of the National Rally (RN) also criticized the European Commission "for constantly overstepping its prerogatives and competences to the detriment of the power of the people, something that should concern the Hungarians due to the persistent attack on this freedom staunchly defended (by Orban) for years."
Le Pen, awaiting the appeal of a five-year ban from public office for embezzlement of public funds, had promised to "toast with champagne" with Orban if she were elected in the 2027 presidential elections in France, which would have allowed for the creation of a hypothetical Budapest-Paris axis. The two leaders had strengthened their personal friendship and political ties over the years, especially since the loan of 10.6 million euros granted to Le Pen's party by a bank linked to the Hungarian oligarch Lorinc Meszaros, a friend of Viktor Orban.
Jordan Bardella, Marine Le Pen's protege and potential presidential candidate if his godmother does not overcome her legal issues, bid farewell to Orban as "a great patriot." Despite maintaining a calculated personal distance from the Hungarian populist, Bardella aligned with him as the spokesperson for Patriots for Europe in their recent opposition to the granting of a 90 billion euro loan to Ukraine.
RN deputy Jean-Philippe Tanguy attributed Orban's defeat to "a wear and tear of power" and hinted that U.S. support, marked by the visit of J.D. Vance on the eve of the vote, may have influenced his defeat. "We are against all types of interference," said Tanguy, indirectly warning of the risk that closeness to Donald Trump may pose for the European far-right.
"We have lost a personal ally and an opponent of Ursula von der Leyen," said RN deputy Renaud Labaye. "For the vision we have of the European Union, what happened may be a setback. But in our opinion, this will not stop the change that citizens want. Many countries tell us that only a sovereign France can change the direction of the European Union."
Orban's defeat comes just two weeks after the stumble of the far-right, with significantly lower gains than expected against traditional parties in the municipal elections in France, raising the possibility of a turning point with a year left until the presidential elections.
In the latest Cesi poll for La Tribune Dimanche, Jordan Bardella (34%) and Marine Le Pen (32%) remain the favorite candidates for the French, but former Prime Minister and moderate center candidate Édouard Philippe (26%) has significantly gained ground after being reelected as mayor of Le Havre and even ranks ahead of his far-right rivals in a hypothetical second round, according to several polls.