Hungary’s combative Viktor Orban was formally sworn in as prime minister on Monday, fresh off a huge election victory in April, beginning a new attack against Brussels and a “suicidal” West.

Following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, the central European country is in talks with other EU members to impose a Russian energy embargo.

Orban, who has recently sought closer connections with Russian President Vladimir Putin, has stated that he will not support the planned ban, citing Hungary’s reliance on Russian oil.

Urging the EU to respect the sovereignty of nation-states, Orban said “cultural alienation is growing between the western half of Europe and Hungary”.

“That is because we believe in the Christian civilizational foundations of Europe, and in the nation, which Brussels has given up,” he told parliament after formally being reelected as premier in the 199-seat assembly by 133 votes to 27 against.

One opposition party walked out of the chamber in protest over what they see as an unlevel playing field, calling the new government “illegitimate”.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel both congratulated Orban on Twitter on Monday for his re-election.

“The EU faces unprecedented challenges. I look forward to working together to ensure we can collectively address them successfully,” von der Leyen wrote.

In his wide-ranging address, Orban told newly-elected deputies that “the coming decade will be an era of dangers, uncertainty, and war”.

Alongside looming economic recession, an energy crisis and the threat of pandemics Europe also has to contend with “a regenerating suicidal wave in the Western world”, said the 58-year-old.

He said “gender madness” and “the great European population replacement program” were “suicidal experiments”, evoking a far-right conspiracy theory according to which white Europeans are being deliberately supplanted by non-white immigrants.

On April 3 Orban’s right-wing Fidesz party won its fourth consecutive two-thirds majority since 2010, granting it further legislative carte blanche to amend the constitution and fast-track new laws.

Now transformed into what Orban calls an “illiberal state” Hungary has regularly clashed with Brussels over rule of law, migration and LGBTQ rights among many issues.

Some of Orban’s critics believe he is trying to pull Hungary out of the EU and point to his tight ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“It is in our interest that it remains (a member) in the next decade,” Orban said on Monday.