'Every nation has right to show itself, that’s what happened,' Hungarian PM says on Paris 2024 opening ceremony

By Merve Berker

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Sunday said that "every nation has the right to show itself," and "that's what happened' in the opening ceremony of the Olympics.

Orban's remarks came on Sunday during a speech two days after the opening ceremony that has received reaction from the Christian world with its use of famous painting The Last Supper.

"As for the Olympics, I suggest that we remain calm," Orban said, adding that it would be unnecessary to offend the French.

"Let’s not offend them, because the French will be our allies in many ways, short, medium and long-term as well," he said.

"There is much more overlap between the idea of strategic autonomy announced by Macron and the idea of national sovereignty than we think," Orban said, referring to French President Emmanuel Macron's strategic autonomy idea which says the EU policies and defense should not be reliant on the US.

“And we will have to work with someone."

Orban later moved on to a satirical addition and said: "After all, every nation has the right to show itself. Well, that’s what happened!"

The opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics has drawn significant backlash for its depiction of Leonardo da Vinci's painting "The Last Supper" with a "drag queen" performance, which many view as disrespectful to religious beliefs.

The ceremony, held on the Seine River, featured 6,800 athletes parading along a 6-kilometer route with 85 boats, and was followed worldwide through live performances and televised broadcasts.