Orban wants to build ‘illiberal state’

Report of a speech by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban at a retreat of ethnic Hungarian leaders in Baile Tusnad, Romania on the 26 July 2014. He was quoted as saying that he wanted to build an illiberal state based on national foundations, citing Russia and China as examples. He was seeking to find the best way to organise the Hungarian state to make it more competitive and that it was time to break with liberal principles and methods of social organisation.

Speaking at the Center for European Policy Analysis on 2 October 2014, Victoria Nuland, the US' top diplomat on Europe, criticised Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban for his statements against liberal democracy.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Political interference row between Norway and Hungary escalates http://www.europeansources.info/record/political-interference-row-between-norway-and-hungary-escalates/

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ESO: Background information: Hungary election: PM Viktor Orban declares victory http://www.europeansources.info/record/hungary-election-pm-viktor-orban-declares-victory/

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openDemocracy: Can Europe Make it?, 06.08.14: Hungarian despotism: Europe must act https://www.opendemocracy.net/can-europe-make-it/lorenzo-marsili/hungarian-despotism-europe-must-act

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EUObserver, 03.10.14: US diplomat lashes out at Hungary's Orban http://euobserver.com/foreign/125881

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