Tony Abbott has described Viktor Orbán as “[Donald] Trump with brains” and Hungary’s “greatest modern leader”, as the future of his work for the ousted leader’s pet thinktank hangs in the balance. Orbán’s 16-year grip on power ended after his Fidesz party lost to the opposition Tisza party led by Péter Magyar, which won at least 138 of the 199 seats in parliament.
Abbott has been a senior visiting fellow at the conservative Danube Institute since 2023, according to Australia’s foreign influence transparency scheme. The institute, which relies heavily on funding from Orbán’s former government, now faces an uncertain future. In a social media statement, Abbott praised Orbán for making Budapest “something of a haven for conservative intellectuals” and said he did not expect the new government to change that.
The former Australian prime minister said the economy had strengthened, Budapest had been transformed and Hungary’s family policies had been studied around the world. He acknowledged differing with Orbán over Ukraine, but added: “Why should a sovereign nation be bullied by Brussels into policies that would jeopardise its future as a distinct people?”
Orbán’s time in power was contentious, marked by clashes with the European Council over justice, migration, LGBTQ+ rights and aid for Ukraine, as well as the suspension of billions of euros in funding. Abbott’s admiration predates his formal association with the Danube Institute; in 2019 he praised Orbán and warned about “military age” male immigrants “swarming” Europe.
In a podcast with the Danube Institute this month, Abbott repeated his view that Orbán was “an absolute, passionate nationalist, but a deep thinker”, calling him Hungary’s greatest modern leader and a transformative prime minister. He argued that controlling immigration was not just about stopping illegal migrants but also about limiting numbers to preserve a country’s culture.
Abbott admitted Orbán’s pronatalist policy had seen mixed success, but urged Australian conservatives to take note, citing declining birthrates and record migration. “I would personally like to see much lower migration and far more Australian kids,” he said. Guardian Australia approached Abbott for comment on the election outcome and his future at the Danube Institute, but was referred to his social media statement.
