Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said Germany's main far-right party represents the "future" of the EU's largest economy, after hosting the party's top election candidate on Wednesday, February 12.
Emboldened by his "dear friend" US President Donald Trump's return to power, Hungary's nationalist leader has vowed to "occupy Brussels" by bringing together far-right parties in the European Parliament.
Orban has regularly welcomed far-right leaders to Budapest, but his meeting Wednesday with Alternative for Germany co-leader Alice Weidel was the first time he has hosted anyone from the German anti-immigration party.
"AfD is not a party whose leader is usually received by the prime ministers of every European country. But it is high time we changed that. That is why we are here," he said at a press briefing after talks with Weidel, AfD's top candidate in Germany's election this month.
Orban said all of the party's important policy points would benefit Hungary and identified Weidel as a fellow "freedom fighter."
"It is entirely clear that the AfD is the future," he said. Weidel thanked Orban for his "rational policy and "fight for freedom" referring to his battles with Brussels since he returned to power in 2010.
"I can promise you that we, the Alternative for Germany will follow the path of Hungary, our great role model," said Weidel.
AfD has risen in popularity in Germany and last month, Friedrich Merz, leader of the mainstream conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) broke a German political taboo of not cooperating with the far right when he sought parliamentary support from AfD. Ahead of the February 23 election, AfD is polling in second place, averaging close to 21%, behind the CDU/CSU, which leads with 29-30%.
Last year, Hungary's nationalist leader helped launch the Patriots for Europe which has become the main far-right group in the European Parliament. The AfD is not a member and leads the smaller far-right Europe of Sovereign Nations group.