Could—or should—the EU expel Hungary?

Is it time for the European Union to expel Hungary? In recent years, Hungary, under Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, has openly challenged the EU’s foundational values—democracy, rule of law, and human rights. Orbán’s increasingly authoritarian rule has included curbs on media freedom, erosion of judicial independence, and widespread corruption. Hungary has also obstructed EU policy on Ukraine, maintained close ties with Russia, and announced its withdrawal from the International Criminal Court. These actions have prompted growing calls for Hungary to be removed from the EU. But while the Union allows members to leave voluntarily, it lacks a formal mechanism to expel a member—raising difficult legal, political, and strategic questions about what can be done.

This video explores the complex case of Hungary’s relationship with the EU and whether expulsion is even possible or advisable. From the EU’s post-WWII origins to Hungary’s own turbulent history, we examine how Orbán’s Hungary came to openly defy the bloc’s core principles. We look at the risks of setting a precedent for expulsion, the potential consequences of alienating Hungary, and the alternative options—such as marginalisation or financial penalties—that the EU could pursue. With growing domestic opposition and a possible political shift on the horizon, Hungary's future in the EU may be more uncertain than ever.

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*VIDEO CHAPTERS*
00:00 Introduction and Titles
02:13 The Emergence of the European Union
03:22 The Emergence of Modern Hungary
04:35 Viktor Orban and Hungary’s Illiberal Democracy
06:36 EU Measures Against Hungary
08:02 Could or Should Hungary be Expelled from the EU?
10:26 Could Hungary be Suspended from the EU?
11:44 Other Scenarios for Hungary?

#Hungary #EuropeanUnion #Orban

[JamesKerLindsay]

Hungary’s place in the European Union is becoming one of the most pressing questions in European politics. With Viktor Orbán openly defying core EU values and aligning with Russia, the debate over whether Hungary should be expelled has never been more serious. But would that solve the problem—or create new ones? So, what do you think? Should the EU find a way to remove Hungary? Or is engagement the better path? As ever, I look forward to hearing your thoughts below.

[florincosma]

As a Romanian I do not think Hungarians should suffer in EU because of their government actions.
However, I think EU should adopt the necessary laws that will allow to freeze Hungary's right to veto and challenge the foundational values of democracy, rule of law and human rights.

[epschas]

No need to kick a member state out. The only thing that has to change is the notion of unanimous decisions, which is just silly and unrealistic.

[williamlloyd]

EU probably needs a way to suspend or practically limit members and two, end requirements for unanimity/consensus for domes classes of decisions.

[MrNilOrange]

If the EU is not based on shared values it is in trouble. There has to be a mechanism to ensure that.

[toroniman]

While it's easy to want to throw Hungary out because of how repugnant Orban is, I do think it would be unfair to the many Hungarians who do support the EU, who see the great benefit to being in the EU, and who don't want to be ruled any more by a man who wants to rule his country Putin-style. Even though kicking Hungary out would eliminate Orban's use as Putin's tool of obstruction within the EU, there's many more dangers that could the EU could face from an excluded Hungary that would then be ripe for use in many other ways by Russia to threaten the rest of the bloc. I also believe completely kicking Hungary out at this point would set a bad precedent & may cause ripple effects that would leave the EU less united at a time when it really needs to be more united than ever.

[DerTypAusDemREICH]

As a German, I can see that it is probably just as controversial in Hungary - some want this, others want that. Let's just say that I personally wouldn't care which decision they make, but my sympathy for the Hungarians themselves and their country in general will not change negatively because of this.
Or if the word centrist means nothing to someone: I, as an individual, remain neutral.
🇩🇪♥️🇭🇺

[AchyutChaudhary]

I think the bigger question is why hasn’t the right-wing PM Orban *himself* withdrawn 🇭🇺Hungary from the 🇪🇺EU in all these 15 years he’s been in power at all - given how the right-wing Nigel Farage in the UK successfully made Brexit happen whilst not even being a PM (or even a MP)?

[hans]

3:43 Almost a thousand years? You mean *more than* a thousand years! Hungary was established in 895 and became a Christian kingdom in the year 1000.

[imnotusingmyrealname]

Herbert Kickl of the Austrian far right FPÖ said multiple times his vision for Austria is Hungary. The FPÖ also has the goal of undermining, sabotaging and disabling the EU from within. The German AfD also follows this goal. It's not a radical claim to say that Hungary's intention is to undermine the EU. It more and more looks like it.

[wwwww]

You are completely wrong. Orban wants out, and the moment voting rights are suspended, he will wi6draw us from the EU. As the huge majority of Hungarians are still pro-EU, he cannot at this point say he wants to leave. Actually, he did say, in the late nineties or early 2000s - before joining the EU - that "there is life outside of the union". The problem is that with leaving the EU he will take us with him. But there is very little we can do to stop this lunatic.

[GeorgIsm-up]

Can the unanimity requirement be replaced with a supermajority requirement, like 5/6?

[erf]

With friends like Hungary, who needs enemies?

[DukeOfTheYard]

As a Romanian, kicking Hungary out of EU would be against our interests, for several reasons.
Besides, if EU is really a democracy, then different views should be respected, even though we might disagree with them.

[tanyaperrin]

At the very least, NO country should be able to veto anything!

[eol]

It's more on a corrupt leader & his cronies than the people of Hungry.
I think suspension would be more appropriate. Any country that goes off the deep end with a dictator or human rights violation can have EU voting rights suspended until they get back to free & fair elections & follow the agreed apon rules.

[afzk]

Kicking a country out would be counter productive because the process to join the EU is so slow. Any newly elected EU-hostile government can leverage this to achieve their nefarious goals, making it very hard to have a swing in the opposite direction for their country even if their party loses the next elections. So what is needed instead is a quicker way to partially isolate a country that is acting against the EU. Like a different status that grants them less decision making power and lessened economic benefit, until they re-align. As for Hungary if they really want to do a HU-exit they can try going for it themselves.

[evaolah]

Only send away Orban ‼️‼️‼️‼️
Hungarian 🇭🇺 people have to stay with European 🇪🇺

[thomassenbart]

The values of democracy for the EU are highly suspect at the moment. Look no further than Romania, France, and Germany all outlawing leaders, parties, or attempting to do so all the while with an overarching EU bureaucracy imposing vast restrictions and protocols on the EU, such as Schengen. I think a basic re-evaluation of assumptions is necessary.

[chriscolley]

Hungary should just vote him out of office in fair elections .