“When liberals win, Brussels calls it democracy. When conservatives win, they say it’s not democracy. Don’t take it too seriously – it’s business as usual,” stated Viktor Orbán, Hungary’s Prime Minister and current holder of the EU Council Presidency, during a joint briefing with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze.

Orbán emphasized that Georgia held free and democratic elections.

“Speaking as Hungary’s Prime Minister who has won many debates, I can tell you that discussions will continue over the next two days. The election results are indisputable – free and democratic elections were held. There will still be debates in Europe, but you shouldn’t take this too seriously as it’s quite normal. This kind of debate always happens in Brussels. When essentially conservative parties win, we always see such discussions because European politics follows a predictable playbook: if liberals win, it’s considered democracy; if conservatives win, they say democracy is lacking. This debate pattern is constant in Brussels.

Whether elections are held in Hungary or any other country, the reaction follows the same pattern. Had liberals won, it would have been celebrated across Western Europe as democracy in its finest form. Now that the conservative spirit and values have prevailed, debates are emerging in Europe. This happened even after better-conducted elections in various countries and echoes through the international press, but it shouldn’t be taken too seriously.

Therefore, Mr. Prime Minister, I want to congratulate you on your election victory and its democratic conduct and wish you great success. You can always count on our strategic partnership in the future,” Viktor Orbán declared.