Illegitimate still has impact

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has once again upset EU leaders by visiting Georgia shortly after the country's parliamentary elections. Hungary currently holds the rotating presidency of the EU, while Georgia has been accorded EU status and candidate status.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban speaks next to Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze

If these two things were enough, Mr. Orban’s visit to Georgia would be perfectly normal, and perhaps even necessary. But the EU is not pleased because Mr. Orban “acted on his own” and was not mandated by the EU.

Just like his visits to Russia and Ukraine, shortly after Hungary began its rotating EU presidency, Mr. Orban did not discuss or consult with EU leaders beforehand. So, immediately after Mr. Orban departed for Georgia, EU leaders immediately declared that Mr. Orban had no right to represent the union and that any statements he made in Georgia, as before in Russia and Ukraine, were not in the name of the EU, did not speak for the EU and did not represent the EU's views.

The EU is also upset because Mr. Orban went to Georgia when the ruling "Georgian Dream" party won nearly 54% of the votes in the recent parliamentary election and thus could continue to extend its continuous rule since 2014 until now, but this election result is not recognized by the EU. This party is considered by the EU to be pro-Russian and not oriented towards the EU. Mr. Orban congratulated this party on its election victory when the results had not yet been officially announced. Thereby, Mr. Orban not only showed that he did not share the same views with the EU on Georgia and Russia but also on Ukraine. Mr. Orban's move has deepened the internal division within the EU on Russia, while still maintaining relations with Russia.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/khong-chinh-danh-van-co-tac-dong-185241030220407172.htm