Opposition “attacks” on Hungarian PM due to his support for Georgia’s EU integration - ruling party head

Irakli Kobakhidze, the head of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Friday claimed members of the domestic opposition had “attacked” Viktor Orbán, the Hungarian Prime Minister, during his visit to Georgia this week due to his support for Georgia’s European integration and “adequate values”. 

Several opposition MPs responded to Orbán’s visit to the country and claimed his arrival ahead of the European Union’s forthcoming decision on Tbilisi’s membership candidate status would be “disadvantageous”, calling him an “ally” of the Russian President Vladimir Putin and an “authoritarian leader much disliked in the bloc”. 

In his press comments, Kobakhidze alleged the members of the domestic opposition were “against Georgia’s EU candidacy”, and “expressed aggression towards anyone supporting the country”. 

He added the “destructive wing” of the domestic opposition - in reference to the United National Movement and affiliated groups - had also attacked Oliver Varhelyi, the EU Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, last year for his “positive comments” about the Government in his visit. 

Naturally, we need Hungary's vote to get the status, and when [the opposition] attacks a European leader in such conditions, it says everything”, Kobakhidze said and slammed the opposition for labelling Orbán a “head of an authoritarian regime”. 

The lawmaker called the allegations “fake” and noted “unlike” the UNM Government, in office between 2004-2012 in Georgia, Orbán’s office had “never been engaged in torture of people, racketeering business or any other illegalities”.  

Orbán arrived in Georgia with his wife and the delegation on Tuesday, and held a face-to-face meeting with his counterpart Irakli Garibashvili on Wednesday and a joint press briefing on Thursday, where the official pledged his country’s “firm support” for Georgia’s EU integration.