Political Updates: Balázs Orbán in the Spotlight

In a recent podcast recorded on September 2nd, 2025, Bálasz Orbán, political director of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and chairman of the board at the Mathias Corvinus Collegium, discussed his intellectual journey and the development of the national conservative movement in Europe and Hungary.

Orbán, who previously served as minister of state in the prime minister's office and director general of the Migration Research Institute in Budapest, shared insights on the national conservative movement in Hungary, which centres on preserving national identity, traditional values, and sovereignty while challenging liberal democratic norms. Under Orbán's Fidesz-KDNP government, Hungary has been classified as a hybrid regime with weakened rule of law and centralized power.

During the discussion, Orbán and his interlocutor, Mark, delved into the potential mainstreaming of the European Parliament's Patriots for Europe group in EU politics. The right-wing movements in Europe have partly followed Hungary's example, emphasizing nationalism and skepticism toward EU institutions. The European Parliament group "Patriots for Europe" represents this rightist wave but remains largely outside mainstream EU politics.

The conversation also touched on the key concepts underpinning Hungary's national conservatism, as well as the book "Regime Change: Towards a Postliberal Future" by Patrick Deneen. They explored how this "new politics" is restructuring power in Europe, fostering nationalist alliances, challenging EU integration, and increasing political polarization.

The discussion raised a crucial question: whether the right-wing movement in Europe has developed in Hungary's image. Orbán's political career, which began in academia and culminated in his current role as political director, offers a unique perspective on this question.

The development of the national conservative movement in Europe is a significant and ongoing topic, and this podcast provides valuable insights into its evolution and potential impact on the political landscape of the continent.