JD Vance Arrives in Budapest to Rescue Orbán’s Ratings
Political
U.S. Vice President JD Vance arrived in Budapest on an emergency visit just five days before the parliamentary elections to provide direct support to Viktor Orbán. During a joint press conference, Vance called the Hungarian Prime Minister a "model" for all of Europe and launched an unprecedented attack on the European Union leadership. According to the American politician, Brussels is intentionally attempting to undermine Hungary’s economy and energy independence to punish Orbán for his conservative stance and resistance to liberal norms.
The visit comes amidst a severe political crisis: according to the latest polls by the 21 Research Institute, the opposition Tisza party, led by Péter Magyar, leads the ruling Fidesz by 19 percentage points (56% to 37%). Vance openly pledged to assist Orbán in the final days of the campaign while accusing Brussels of imposing censorship through EU digital regulations and alleging that Ukrainian intelligence services are attempting to interfere in the electoral process. Notably, the Vice President provided no evidence for these claims.
In response to Washington’s actions, opposition leader Péter Magyar called on all foreign powers to respect the country’s sovereignty and refrain from interfering in the choice of the Hungarian people. The situation is further complicated by the long-standing conflict between Budapest and the EU: Brussels is withholding funds over rule-of-law concerns, while Orbán, in turn, continues to veto aid packages for Ukraine. The outcome of Sunday’s vote will determine whether Hungary remains Trump’s key ally in Europe or sees a change in government for the first time in 16 years.
In response to Washington’s actions, opposition leader Péter Magyar called on all foreign powers to respect the country’s sovereignty and refrain from interfering in the choice of the Hungarian people. The situation is further complicated by the long-standing conflict between Budapest and the EU: Brussels is withholding funds over rule-of-law concerns, while Orbán, in turn, continues to veto aid packages for Ukraine. The outcome of Sunday’s vote will determine whether Hungary remains Trump’s key ally in Europe or sees a change in government for the first time in 16 years.
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