Tony Abbott's Danube Institute Role in Doubt After Orbán's Election Loss
Former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has publicly praised ousted Hungarian leader Viktor Orbán as "Trump with brains" and Hungary's "greatest modern leader," even as the future of his own position at a pro-Orbán thinktank hangs in the balance. Abbott's association with the conservative Danube Institute as a senior visiting fellow since 2023, documented through Australia's foreign influence transparency scheme, now faces uncertainty following Orbán's electoral defeat.
Orbán's 16-Year Rule Ends in Hungary
Viktor Orbán's 16-year grip on power in Hungary has officially ended after the rightwing populist leader conceded defeat to the opposition Tisza party led by Péter Magyar. The Tisza party secured at least 138 of the 199 seats in Hungary's parliament, marking a significant political shift in the central European nation. This change puts pro-Fidesz thinktanks like the Danube Institute, which relied heavily on Orbán's former government funding, in a precarious position regarding their future operations and influence.
Abbott's Public Praise for Orbán's Policies
Tony Abbott, who served as Australia's 28th prime minister, took to social media to commend Orbán for transforming Budapest into "something of a haven for conservative intellectuals." Abbott expressed optimism that the new government would continue this legacy, stating: "The economy has strengthened, the city of Budapest has been transformed, and Hungary's family policies and determination to keep its culture have been studied around the world."
While acknowledging their differences on Ukraine, Abbott defended Orbán's defiance of the European Union, particularly on immigration policies: "Why should a sovereign nation be bullied by Brussels into policies that would jeopardise its future as a distinct people?"
Controversial Policies and International Scrutiny
Orbán's 16-year tenure has been marked by contentious policies that drew international criticism and resulted in the European Council suspending billions of euros in funding. The Hungarian leader clashed with European institutions over justice reforms, migration approaches, LGBTQ+ rights, and aid for Ukraine, consistently blocking sanctions against Russia throughout his administration.
Abbott's Longstanding Affinity with Orbán's Leadership
Tony Abbott's admiration for Viktor Orbán predates his official 2023 association with the Danube Institute. In 2019, Abbott warned a European conference about "military age" male immigrants "swarming" the continent while praising the Fidesz leader's approach. More recently, in a podcast interview with the Danube Institute just days before the election results became clear, Abbott elaborated on his comparison between Orbán and Donald Trump.
"I've always thought of Viktor Orbán as, if you like, Trump with brains," Abbott stated. "Someone who is an absolute, passionate nationalist, but is a deep thinker who doesn't just say the first thing that comes into his head. That's not to dismiss President Trump, who's obviously a very significant president, but Viktor Orbán has, I think, been Hungary's greatest modern leader."
Immigration and Population Policy Discussions
Abbott acknowledged that Orbán's controversial pronatalist policy, designed to increase birthrates as an alternative to migration, had achieved mixed results. However, he urged Australian conservatives to consider similar approaches: "Given that our birthrate is declining fast, we are, at the moment, bringing in record numbers of migrants. Not all of them are contributing economically and socially quite as well as we would like. I would personally like to see much lower migration and far more Australian kids."
When contacted for comment regarding the election outcome and his future at the Danube Institute, Abbott's representatives referred journalists to his existing social media statements, leaving questions about his continued involvement with the thinktank unanswered as Hungary enters a new political era.
