Italy and Hungary: Silence when the visitor distributes

Viktor Orbán and Giorgia Meloni still like each other, if the images from Rome are to be believed. Hungary's Prime Minister visited the Italian capital on Monday, first to see the Pope, then to see Meloni. He shares a strong bond with Italy's head of government; he has praised her in the past, and she has praised him. Critical observers repeatedly cite Hungary under Orbán as a model for Meloni, as what she, with her Fratelli d'Italia party, actually strives for Italy : an illiberal democracy. Which is why a meeting between the two is under special scrutiny.

What was pictured was a beaming Meloni and Orbán greeting his colleague with a kiss on the hand. What the cameras didn't capture, however, were the irritations surrounding the visit. On the way from the Pope to Meloni, Orbán stopped by his hotel in downtown Rome, where he was interviewed by journalists – and, once again, lashed out at Europe. "The European Union counts for nothing," the newspaper La Repubblica quoted him as saying . Europe is "completely out of the game" when it comes to negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, Orbán said.

Now, it is precisely the relationship with Europe that raised many questions following Meloni's 2022 election victory. During the election campaign, she sounded as if Italy would no longer cower before the EU's demands, repeatedly speaking of the "bureaucrats in Brussels." Since becoming Prime Minister, she has moderated her tone. She is said to be on good terms with Commission President Ursula von der Leyen; she supports arms deliveries to Ukraine and sanctions against Russia, thus placing her in the European mainstream. One thing is clear: Italy cannot survive without Europe, and certainly not without European money. Meloni and Italy's economy continue to benefit greatly from the European Union's Corona reconstruction fund, which amounts to 220 billion euros.

Orbán's remarks under Rome's beautiful autumn sky therefore embarrassed his hostess, or at least that's how several Italian media outlets interpreted them. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani of Forza Italia immediately distanced himself. According to Repubblica , just because someone is receiving someone doesn't mean they have to share the same opinion: "Italy takes a different stance." Meloni himself remained silent, even after the reception.

The opposition blames her for this silence. Representatives of the Partito Democratico demanded a clear distancing from Orbán, while the +Europa party had already organized a flash mob with signs reading: "Orbán, you are not welcome."

A statement from the Italian government concluded quite soberly by stating that Orbán and Meloni had "exchanged views on the most important current international issues." The topics discussed were rather keyword-based: Ukraine, the Middle East, the "European agenda," and migration.

Orbán, on the other hand, wrote on X, a little more effusively: "It was great to meet Prime Minister @GiorgiaMeloni in Rome! Standing strong together, we will defend our nations."

He told journalists in Rome that the biggest problem is the European economy, which is losing competitiveness. The cause, in his view, is "the green transformation." Meloni has expressed similar views on this point in the past; both are critical of the Green Deal. The two also appear to continue to agree on their views on migration and their concept of the family. Based on reports from participants, Repubblica reconstructs that Meloni apparently suggested to Orbán at the meeting that he should let the Ukraine issue go for a while and instead work together to reduce the influence of progressives in the EU.

At home, Orbán is currently campaigning for election, so his comments in Rome could be a tactic. The Corriere della Sera quotes people close to Meloni as saying : Every time Orbán takes a sharper stance, it becomes a problem for them. Because then it is often Meloni's job to sweep up the pieces. Furthermore, the newspaper suspects that Orbán may be speculating on Meloni's good relations with US President Donald Trump. Hungary is dependent on Russian gas. During his visit to Italy, the Prime Minister therefore also stated that Trump was completely wrong about Russian President Vladimir Putin. He will press Trump for an end to the sanctions.

The question remains whether Meloni might not actually benefit from Orbán's actions in the end. For, as the newspaper Domani, for example, analyzes : Italy's head of government could once again present herself as a particularly important mediator in Brussels, as she did with Donald Trump. As if she were the only one who could tame Orbán.