U.S. Vice President JD Vance will visit Hungary on Sunday, just before the country's parliamentary elections. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has received the "full and complete support" of U.S. President Donald Trump. Recent polls indicate that Orbán and his Fidesz party are likely to lose to the pro-EU opposition party Tisza.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance (left) shakes hands with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán during their meeting. Vance arrived in Hungary to convey Trump's support to his ally, the nationalist prime minister, ahead of the closely contested parliamentary elections on April 12.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has the "full and complete support" of U.S. President Donald Trump, but he may lose one of Europe's most significant and contentious elections this year. On Tuesday, U.S. Vice President Vance flew to Hungary to support Orbán and is scheduled to deliver a speech at an election rally in a Budapest football stadium. While other European leaders have clearly supported Ukraine in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Orbán has maintained relatively close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin. During his campaign, he even stated that the European Union poses a greater threat to Hungary than Russia does.
Latest polls show that Orbán and his Fidesz party are trailing behind their main rival, the pro-European opposition party Tisza, whose leader, Péter Magyar, is poised to replace Orbán after his 16 years in power. This election represents a major turning point for Hungary, with key issues including immigration, the impact of high energy prices, corruption, and the erosion of the rule of law.
Concerns over the rule of law have led the European Commission to freeze approximately €17 billion in funding for Hungary, which remains withheld. Magyar has stated that unlocking these funds is his "top priority" and expressed willingness to deepen ties with the EU, including potentially adopting the euro.
In an interview with the Associated Press over the weekend, Magyar described "reaching a compromise" as an "art." He added, "The world seems to be turning away from Europe. Europe is losing competitiveness, lacks strong enough leadership, and has no visionary leaders. Europe is falling behind."
March 26, 2024, Budapest, Hungary – Lawyer and former government insider Péter Magyar organized and spoke at a rally in front of the Prosecutor General's office. Magyar, the ex-husband of former Minister of Justice Judit Varga, has transitioned from a government insider to a whistleblower. That day, he released audio recordings on social media exposing how Varga and other Hungarian officials destroyed court evidence.
Analysts from the German Marshall Fund suggest that if Magyar comes to power, he may abandon Orbán's confrontational foreign policy and align Hungary more closely with Western allies on issues such as a unified stance toward Russia. However, a Magyar government would not completely break from Orbán-era policies.
Immigration and support for Ukraine remain points of contention. The Tisza party is cautious about Ukraine's EU membership and has even supported Orbán's government in the European Parliament by voting against sending troops or weapons to the front lines in Ukraine.
Energy is another challenging issue. Hungary is currently in a dispute with Ukraine over oil shipments via the "Friendship" pipeline, leading Budapest to veto a €90 billion EU loan package.
In recent weeks, Orbán has focused on addressing concerns about energy price shocks stemming from the war in Iran. He has accused Magyar of conspiring with the EU and Ukraine to cut off Hungary's supply of cheap Russian oil.
The election campaign has drawn significant international attention, particularly regarding potential Russian interference, with disinformation on social media becoming a focal point.
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