GD PM Kobakhidze Visits Hungary to Participate in CPAC

Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze visited Hungary on May 28, where he met with his Hungarian counterpart, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. On May 29–30, Kobakhidze is also scheduled to participate in the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), which will be held in Budapest.

This was the sixth time that Kobakhidze and Orbán have met since the October 26, 2024, parliamentary elections in Georgia.

Meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán

According to a press release from the GD government, during their meeting on May 28, Prime Ministers Kobakhidze and Orbán highlighted the successful cooperation between Georgia and Hungary. Kobakhidze expressed his gratitude to Orbán for Hungary’s firm support for Georgia across various international platforms.

Following the meeting, Kobakhidze wrote on X: “Had a great meeting with Prime Minister Orbán to discuss the growing partnership between Georgia and Hungary. We deeply appreciate Hungary’s support for Georgia’s European integration and our shared commitment to regional peace and stability.”

Irakli Kobakhidze’s Address at CPAC

On May 29, Irakli Kobakhidze delivered his speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference for the second time. While last year he focused on topics such as “LGBT propaganda,” “uncontrolled migration,” “liberal fascism,” and threats to the countries’ national identities and Christianity, this year he escalated his rhetoric by embracing the “deep state” conspiracy narrative often espoused by GD leaders domestically.

Kobakhidze began his speech by praising Hungary as a country that “stood tall in defense of its sovereignty and identity,” lauding its far-right Prime Minister Viktor Orban for his “brave and uncompromised fight for Hungary’s freedom and national interests.”

“We, Georgians, are particularly praising him for his invaluable support to Georgia and our nation’s national interests. [The official transcript of his speech says “European path” instead of “national interests.”] Thank you very much for that, Mr. Orban,” Kobakhidze said. 

Orbán is one of the few Western leaders to recognize the GD government following the highly disputed 2024 parliamentary elections. As the Georgian Dream finds itself in wider international isolation, Budapest has become a frequent destination for the ruling party officials from Tbilisi.

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“I bring you the voice of Georgia,” claimed the leader with a legitimacy crisis, “a country that has stood firm at the crossroads of empires for over 3,000 years; a country that became one of the first Christian nations in the world.”

Despite many wars and centuries of occupation, Kobakhidze said, “Yet, we remain unbroken, we remain Georgia. We are proud of our Christianity, and we do our best to protect it. Because we know: when a nation loses its national identity and faith, it loses itself.”

Kobakhidze said the West – not just the “political West,” but the “civilizational West” of “Christian and democratic values” – is “at the crossroads.” “We are gathered here to defend our identity and our God-given right to be who we are,” he said. 

Kobakhidze said Georgia is part of the West – “the real West,” as he put it – “the West of freedom, faith, and family values, not that of the ‘deep state’ who wants to turn the world into nothing and feel entitled to rule over everything.”

“The true, value-based West – our West – is still alive. It’s alive in countries like Hungary, and it lives in the hearts of millions across Europe and beyond, who are tired of being told that loving their homeland is a crime.” 

Kobakhidze emphasized that Georgia is a European nation with its own history, culture, and identity, “But the European bureaucracy must recognize our right to sovereignty and democracy. Being pro-European should not mean anti-Georgian.”

“Our commitment to European integration remains strong,” Kobakhide claimed, “But we will not sacrifice our dignity or sovereignty. We will not accept double standards, nor will we trade our identity for political favor.” 

The GD Prime Minister then lashed out against what he called the rise of “liberal fascism,” which he defined as “an aggressive and intolerant foreign-funded ideology and movement designed to weaken state and social institutions, fuel hatred in our societies, promote gender and LGBT propaganda, and dismantle the core foundations of our societies.” He added, “It claims to defend rights but tramples on the right of nations to chart their own development. It preaches tolerance but ties to silent dissent.”

Kobakhidze then turned to the war in Ukraine, which he called an “awful tragedy,” claiming the GD government had “warned” the international community of the consequences. “Sadly, those warnings were ignored,” he said, adding that Georgia has resisted “enormous pressure” – both external and internal – “from those,” he did not identify, “who would see Georgia once again become a battlefield.” 

Kobakhide thus reiterated the controversial “second front” narrative, suggesting the West was trying to “drag” Georgia into war with Russia.

“We have chosen a different path. We have chosen peace over war, and stability over instability.”

Stressing that peace must be protected by truth, Kobakhidze lashed out at “powerful international media outlets,” again without naming any, accusing them of carrying out “coordinated attacks” on Georgia for years. “In fact, their false narratives are designed to punish Georgia for refusing to be dragged into war, for choosing sovereignty, and for putting our national interest first.” 

Kobakhidze slammed “foreign-funded” NGOs and media, and criticized the “threats and sanctions” Georgia has faced for what he said were measures to “protect our sovereignty and ensure NGO transparency.”

“All of the above-mentioned worrisome developments – breach of world peace, interference in the internal affairs of other countries, struggle against their national and religious identity, gender and LGBT propaganda, attempts to undermine family values, global violation of media freedom and censorship, liberal fascism – are being coordinated from a single center,” Kobakhidze said, naming this center the Global War Party, which he claimed is exactly what Trump calls the “deep state.” He welcomed statements and steps by the new U.S. administration, such as dismantling USAID and NED, as “encouraging,” but said they are “not enough.” He said the “deep state” remains “deeply rooted” in American and European bureaucracies, citing as “evidence” the European Parliament’s resolutions on Georgia and the MEGOBARI Act in the U.S. In both cases, Kobakhidze falsely claimed the measures have been directed against the people of Georgia.

Kobakhidze reiterated his domestic conspiracy about the “fight” between Trump and the “deep state,” the outcome of which he said will decide the future of Georgia-US and Georgia-EU relations. “We wish the new administration success in this very important fight.” 

“Finally, I would like to extend my best wishes to all leaders around the world who are standing firm against radical left liberalism and the influence of the deep state – those who continue to defend national sovereignty, traditional values, and the will of their people,” the GD Prime Minister concluded.   

More to follow…

Also Read:

• 17/05/2025 – Kobakhidze Attends EPC Summit in Albania, Meets Orbán, Fico, Vučić
• 05/03/2025 – GD PM Kobakhidze Visits Uzbekistan
• 06/02/2025 – GD PM Irakli Kobakhidze Visits Kazakhstan
  

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