Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán praised Georgia as the most successful European country ahead of the European Union Community Meeting in Copenhagen.
Orbán noted that he plans to meet Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on the sidelines of the EU summit.
“I don’t know of any other country that is so successful. The economy is developing very quickly. We are impressed and learning how you are achieving such success. Europe needs successful countries. Unfortunately, many of our economies are stagnating. We need countries like Georgia to join,” Orbán said.
Orbán has been a vocal supporter of Georgia’s ruling party, Georgian Dream. In October 2024, he was among the first to congratulate the party on its electoral victory, despite widespread allegations of voter manipulation and Russian interference. His endorsement came before official results were announced and in contrast to the European Union’s concerns over the election’s fairness.
This support aligns with Orbán’s broader strategy of aligning with like-minded leaders in Eastern Europe. Analysts describe his relationship with Georgian Dream as a “marriage of convenience” between two leaders with similar governance styles.