### Controversial Visit by Hungary's Viktor Orbán to Georgia Sparks EU Outrage

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has arrived in Georgia to meet with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, a visit that has stirred controversy among European Union leaders. Orbán's trip follows his congratulations to the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party for what he termed an "overwhelming victory" in the recent parliamentary elections, despite broad concerns about voter intimidation and coercion.

A group of ministers from 13 EU countries, including France, Germany, and Poland, strongly criticized Orbán's visit and the "violations of electoral integrity" in Georgia. "We criticize Prime Minister Orbán's premature visit to Georgia," stated a collective declaration from these countries. Josep Borrell, the EU's top diplomat, emphasized that Orbán "does not represent the European Union" and has no authority in foreign policy matters despite Hungary holding the rotating EU presidency.

As the Hungarian leader arrived in Tbilisi, Georgia's opposition held a protest rally to challenge the official election results, which they believe undermine the country's EU membership aspirations. Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili openly disputed the results, claiming that GD secured only 40% of the vote, as opposed to the 54% announced by the central election commission. Zourabichvili described the election as part of a "Russian special operation" targeting Georgia.

A European Parliament observation team that monitored the elections reported various irregularities, including ballot box stuffing and intimidation of voters. Antonio López-Istúriz White, who led the delegation, noted efforts to manipulate the vote, such as pressuring state employees and misusing state resources to benefit the ruling party. Thijs Reuten, a Dutch Member of the European Parliament, further criticized Orbán on social media, stating that his endorsement undermines the EU itself.

The visit has prompted the European Parliament, which had previously initiated a sanctions procedure against Orbán's government in 2018, to reconsider their stance. Although no western leaders have outright declared the elections as stolen, they have urged GD to address the observed irregularities. Former Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt voiced his discontent, suggesting that Orbán's actions align with Moscow's interests.

Orbán's visit to Georgia, coupled with his previous unsupported diplomatic missions to Kyiv, Moscow, Beijing, and Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago, sets the stage for heated discussions at the upcoming EU summit in Budapest. European Council President Charles Michel has added Georgia to the summit's agenda, reiterating the need to address electoral irregularities and underlining the EU's commitment to Georgia's EU pathway.