Kickl and Orban: On the way to a new Europe of patriots?

Kickl and Orban: On the way to a new Europe of patriots?

Budapest, Ungarn - On May 29, 2025, the conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) takes place in Budapest. This important event organized by Hungary Prime Minister Viktor Orban has its origins in the USA in the 1970s and aims to combine conservatives from various currents. Donald Trump sent a video greeting to show his support for Orban. Herbert Kickl, the head of the Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ), is one of the main speakers and emphasizes the resistance to "globalists" and "self -proclaimed elites" in his explanations. The CPAC is an important meeting point for right-wing populist actors and attracts numerous American Republicans, including Matt Schlapp, the head of the US CPAC.

In addition, Kickl calls for a return to a Europe of the fatherland and warns of "total surveillance" and a "digital dictatorship". In his speech, he proclaims the "age of patriots in Europe". In addition to Kickl, other prominent politicians also appear, including former Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, former Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, Australia's ex-Prime Minister Tony Abbott and the Dutch right-wing populist Geert Wilders. The German AfD is not strongly represented at this event, although her co-boss Alice Weidel has a guest appearance.

Foundation of the "Patriots for Europe"

On June 30, 2025, Kickl, Orban and Babiš launched a new political alliance called "Patriots for Europe" to redesign the EU institutions. This initiative aims to change EU policy in terms of migration, green policies and the war in Ukraine. The Alliance consists of populist parties from Austria, Hungary and the Czech Republic, which were able to win a total of 24 members in the European Parliament (MEPs) in the last EU elections. This fulfills the minimum requirement of 23 Meps to found a new group.

However, the foundation faces challenges. To form the group, you have to convince parties from at least four other EU countries. There is speculation about a possible leakage of Marine Le Pen Rass embleme nationally from the current identity and democracy (ID) group, while the future of the AfD, which recently left the ID group, remains uncertain. The new alliance emphasizes the defense of national sovereignty against an EU, where Babiš demands stronger measures to secure the EU external borders and Orbán criticizes the EU leadership for its handling of the Ukraine War.

populism and its challenges

The political landscape in Europe is increasingly shaped by populist currents that are increasingly gaining influence in countries such as Hungary, the Czech Republic and Poland. According to a project for the investigation of populism, the rule of the rule of law, persecution of minorities and an increase in authoritarian tendencies can be seen in these regions. The main researcher Jan Kubik and other experts warn of the dangers of populism, which is interwoven with local cultures and political currents and leads to a risk of democratic values.

With regard to the future of populism and the democratic institutions, experts predict that the sheet could turn for populist politicians if they do not adhere to their promises. The rise of populist forces is often associated with social and economic factors, and political cooperation in the conservative camp remains problematic. These developments illustrate the need for more education and a better understanding of the rights and obligations in liberal democracies.

For further information about the current political situation in Europe, the articles on OE24 , Euractiv and cordis