Jacques Serais, edited by Manon Fossat 10:08 am, December 13, 2021

Emmanuel Macron meets this Monday in Budapest with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, his opponent in the EU on the values ​​side but a potential ally on subjects such as investments, nuclear or European defense, on the program of the French presidency. A trip with multiple challenges for the Head of State.

Emmanuel Macron is going to Hungary on Monday.

The Head of State is due to arrive this afternoon in Budapest, where he will meet with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, before participating in the summit of the countries of the Visegrad group (Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia), currently chaired by the latter.

The last arrival of a French head of state in Hungary dates back to Nicolas Sarkozy in 2007. Viktor Orban, in power since 2010, is the longest serving EU leader since the departure of Angela Merkel.

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Despite the two diametrically opposed, Emmanuel Macron had made a commitment to visit the 27 member states of the European Union before the end of his five-year term.

And on the list, there is only one country left, Hungary.

The president will therefore be able to boast of having kept his promise, while he is not yet officially a candidate for the 2022 presidential election. 

An adversary, but also a "partner"

If Budapest is the last box checked by the tenant of the Elysée, it is because he goes there a little backwards.

Viktor Orban is in fact his exact opposite on the European scene: he notably challenges the supremacy of European law over national law.

And Emmanuel Macron's political opponent has also received in turn in recent weeks Eric Zemmour then Marine Le Pen. 

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Despite everything, this opponent is also "a partner", underlines the tenant of the Elysee.

It must be said that at the dawn of the French presidency of the Council of the Union, Emmanuel Macron has no other choice but to come to terms with the one he describes as a nationalist.

Above all, the winds are turning.

Today, the Europhile Macron wants to reform the Schengen area for more border control.

And he knows that this approach will be supported by Budapest.

However, to show his disapproval of the methods of the Hungarian Prime Minister, Emmanuel Macron will meet several representatives of the anti-Orban parties on the sidelines of his trip… The art of "at the same time".