Hungary’s conflict with the European Commission escalated on July 9, 2025, as Prime Minister Viktor Orban publicly called for the resignation of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. His statement, posted on social media platform X, came just before the European Parliament’s scheduled vote on a no-confidence motion against the commission, initiated by a bloc of far-right lawmakers. Orban’s remarks followed the commission’s annual report, which found that Hungary had made “no progress” in meeting several earlier demands related to anti-corruption measures, strengthening civil society, and ensuring media independence.
Growing tensions over governance and EU rules
The European Commission has repeatedly accused Budapest of corruption, exerting pressure on the judiciary, and restricting media freedoms. Hungary’s refusal to comply with EU-wide asylum regulations has further intensified Brussels’s criticism. The standoff deepened after the commission recommended suspending 65% of Hungary’s funding under three EU programs. Additionally, the European Court of Justice ordered Hungary to pay a €200 million fine plus daily penalties for delays in compliance, underscoring the legal and financial stakes involved.
Political fallout and accusations of external alliances
European institutions have also expressed serious concern over Hungary’s increasing cooperation with Moscow and Beijing, interpreting this as a strategic shift that threatens EU cohesion. The European Parliament declared that Hungary no longer fits the model of a classical democracy but operates as an electoral autocracy. Consequently, the parliament is considering invoking Article 7 of the EU Treaty, which could lead to sanctions, including suspending Hungary’s voting rights within the bloc.
The no-confidence vote and von der Leyen’s defense
The motion of no confidence against von der Leyen was triggered by Romanian far-right MEP George Piperea, who accused the commission president of lacking transparency in her communications with Pfizer during Covid vaccine negotiations. Von der Leyen strongly condemned the initiative during debates on July 7, branding it as “directly lifted from the oldest extremist playbook, polarizing society and undermining trust in democracy with false claims.”
Despite the controversy, the no-confidence motion requires a two-thirds majority to pass, a threshold it currently lacks. This means von der Leyen will remain in office, even as tensions between Budapest and Brussels are expected to intensify further.
