Left-wing German MEP Daniel Freund has begged the EU to step in and replace USAID funding for Hungary after Elon Musk’s decision to slash its global budget.
Taking to social media on February 6, the Greens/EFA politician lamented the loss of “several million dollars per year” that had supported rule of law, anti-corruption, and pro-democracy initiatives in Hungary.
Hungarian government spokesperson Zoltán Kovács wasted no time mocking Freund’s frustration. “Well, well, well—looks like the #USAID ‘nirvana’ for the European Left is coming to an end,” he quipped on X. Kovács accused USAID of using these funds to manipulate Hungarian democracy under the guise of fighting corruption.
Freund, however, warned that NGOs in Hungary would be left stranded without US support. “With this money gone for NGOs, guess who’s gonna benefit?” he asked, insisting it was the EU’s duty to fill the gap. He also suggested that, without external scrutiny, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and his allies would “plunder” even more EU funds.
The back-and-forth escalated, with Hungary’s ruling Fidesz party in the European Parliament calling Freund’s comments proof of US meddling. “Thank you, MEP Freund, for confirming the intense interference in Hungarian politics from the US,” Fidesz stated, sarcastically adding that EU efforts to override Hungarian voters hardly qualified as democracy.
Freund, a vocal Orbán critic, has long condemned the Hungarian leader, once labeling him “the most corrupt politician” during Hungary’s EU Council Presidency.
