Together for a Christian Europe?
László Tökés on Viktor Orbán, George Simion, and the Hungarian community in Romania on the eve of the 2nd round of the Romanian presidential election.
Bishop László Tökés is a respected but also highly controversial figure in Romania, the Hungarian pastor whose bravery in standing up to the Communist dictatorship in Romania helped spark the revolution in December 1989. From 2007 to 2019 he was a Member of the European Parliament. During a visit to Budapest this week, for a screening of Árpád Szoczi’s film: Dracula's Shadow: The Real Story Behind The Romanian Revolution, I asked Bishop Tökés about Viktor Orban’s controversial praise for Romanian Presidential candidate George Simion. The interview was conducted in the Körösi Csoma Sándor Bilingual Baptist Secondary School in Óbuda, after the film screening.
At a ceremony in Tihány abbey on 9 May, Orban appeared to endorse Simion, while at the same time saying he did not intend to interfere in the Romanian election. You can find the exact quote and a link to the original text at the end of this post. Orban’s remarks provoked anger among Hungarians because of Simion’s past remarks and actions against Hungarians.
László Tökés in Budapest, 15 May 2025
Nick Thorpe
George Simion said he stands for a Christian Europe. Viktor Orban seems to believe Mr Simion. Do you?
László Tökés
I think that the Christian Europe for George Simion is only a political tool and not a real will. His deeds do not seem to underpin his words. Nem fellelnek meg a tettei és a szavai. His deeds and words do not fit with each other. So it is only a slogan for him, the Christian Europe. That's another question, that in Europe, there is a movement towards a Christian Europe. There is a movement for a Christian Europe. The Conservatives and the Patriots are struggling for a Christian Europe.
Nick Thorpe
Were you surprised that Viktor Orban seemed to believe that Mr. Simion is a potential ally in this group of 'Christian patriots'?
László Tökés
Look, I understand Mr. Orban, because they founded the parliamentary group of Patriots for Europe. They are allies of the European conservatives, and they are counting on every country or every party in the conservative fraction, we find with Mrs. Meloni or Mr. Morawiecki, the former prime minister of Poland. It is a good company, let's say, and they want to strengthen this right wing conservative group. And that is why Mr. Orban is so positive towards George Simion. On the other side, he wants to prevent a situation when Mr. Simion can become the President of of Romania. He wants to to give a positive impulse regarding the Romanian-Hungarian relationship. I do understand his preventive and positive attitude towards Mr. Simion or anybody who can become the President of Romania.
Nick Thorpe
Were the Hungarian community in Romania shocked by Mr. Orban's positive (words)?
László Tökés
Yes, the Hungarian community is confused about this declaration of Mr. Orban, because for the Hungarians in Romania, it is evident that George Simion is an anti Hungarian, former football hooligan. And we do not trust in him. But on the other hand, I can see that the Romanian people made a judgement upon the former political class elite. And that is a valid attitude. Because the Romanian mainstream parties are (those) which induced that catastrophic situation in Romania. So the judgement of the voters is absolutely valid and understandable. That's another question that probably George Simion is not an alternative to the other political class.
Nick Thorpe
Isn't this the problem with the idea of a 'Europe of Nations'? The logic of a nation is to defend the national interests of that nation, which is often in contradiction, even in conflict, with the interest of other nations? That one national or nationalist leader is bound to get into conflict? Isn't this why the whole idea of the European Union (was) that we step beyond national conflicts and find common ground? And isn't that the message of a universal Christianity as well? It's not a tribal religion, it's not a national religion, it's a universal faith.
László Tökés
I think that there is no contradiction between the Romanian national interest and the Hungarian national interest, if we look at it on a principal level. And I totally agree that in the spirit of amulticultural Europe, the different national interests can be discussed and can be put in harmony. So I agree with the idea of the Europe of nations, a Europe of Christians.
Nick Thorpe
What will happen to the Hungarians of Romania if Mr Simion wins?
László Tökés
I think that in the context of the international relations and in conformity with the European Union, he will not put in practice what he was menacing with. Simply that was a narrative, an anti-Hungarian narrative. He played out the Hungarian card. So it's only a narrative and a Hungarian propaganda card. But he does not endanger so much the Hungarian community as he is speaking about it. But what he told is terrible. It is reminding me to the anti semitic narrative from the old times.
Nick Thorpe
What he said in the past?
László Tökés
Yes.
Nick Thorpe
So you think he's becoming more moderate?
László Tökés
Yes, I think so.
Nick Thorpe
Or you just hope he is?
Lászlö Tökés
Only I hope. But we have good examples. If we look at Mr. Vucic or Mr. Fico, these two prime ministers were very harsh, nationalist political players, and now they became, in many aspects, very positive in their relations.
‘Yesterday, in the debate between the Romanian presidential candidates, Hungary was addressed in relation to Christianity. One of the candidates, Mr. Simion, said, and I quote:
“Now is the time for a Europe of nations, a Christian Europe, in which we will fight for our right to be European citizens.” This was not said in Hungary, but in neighbouring Romania. We fully agree. We live in a historical community of destiny with the Romanians. We are not interfering in the ongoing Romanian presidential election battle, but we are sending a message from the middle of the Carpathian Basin, from this symbolic place, to assure the people of Romania and its future president that we stand on the ground of unity and cooperation. Therefore we will not support any isolation or political reprisals against Romania and its leaders. Both Romanians and Hungarians are and will remain full citizens of the European Union. We must be able to count on each other in the fight for Christianity and sovereignty.’