BUDAPEST - Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban vowed to defend Hungary's sovereignty and resist external control, describing the European Union (EU) as an empire seeking domination, like past foreign powers.

Speaking to supporters in Budapest on Hungary's national holiday, Orban criticized Brussels for overstepping its authority, comparing it to the historical rulers of Hungary. "There is always an empire that covets the freedom of Hungarians. Right now, it is Brussels," he said.

Orban rejected the idea of leaving the EU, instead advocating for internal reform. "We must take it and change it," he declared.

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Highlighting Hungary's economic independence, Orban pointed to the country's patriotic national economy, with efforts to regain control over its energy sector, regulate multinational corporations and banks, and resist financial dependency on external institutions.