Orban meets Macron ahead of Hungary's EU Presidency

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has met with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris ahead of Hungary's EU presidency, which begins on 1 July.

The pair's working lunch at the Elysee Palace covered key topics such as support for Ukraine and the European defence industry. The visit took place just before the European Council's appointments of new EU leaders on Thursday and Friday.

The meeting was seen as an opportunity for Macron and Orban to prepare for Hungary's upcoming presidency, during which Orban planned to promote the slogan: 'Let's make Europe Great Again.'

The visit was particularly politically significant, given Orban's recent criticism of Germany's migration policy.

Orban has also been critical of what he saw as political divisions within the EU, especially concerning so-called 'top job' allocations. He claims that some countries were being excluded due to party and political affiliations.

Recently, Orban has expressed his frustration, particularly targeting Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, describing her tenure as "the worst mandate in the history of Europe."

Despite Orban's criticism, von der Leyen is poised to be reappointed on Thursday for another five-year term.

Orban's discontent has been further fueled by the European Union's aid policy toward Ukraine - leading Budapest to block a substantial €6 billion military support package for Kiev for several months.

Orban's grievances extend to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, whom he accuses of failing to adequately protect the Hungarian community living in Ukraine. Specifically, Orban opposes the mobilisation of Ukrainian Hungarians to the front lines. Additionally, he is against sharing European agricultural subsidies