JD Vance due in Hungary to back Orban’s re-election bid
JD Vance due in Hungary to back Orban’s re-election bid
US Vice-President JD Vance is set to visit Hungary, where he will lend support to Prime Minister Viktor Orban in the upcoming parliamentary election. The 12 April vote marks a pivotal moment in Orban’s political journey, which spans nearly four decades. His campaign faces stiff opposition, particularly from Peter Magyar, a former Fidesz party member who left to establish the Tisza party two years ago.
Magyar’s Tisza party currently leads Fidesz in most public opinion polls by 10% to 20%. However, the government-aligned Nezopont agency forecasts a narrow victory for Orban. The stakes are high, as this election is considered his most challenging to date. Vance’s presence at a rally in Budapest, held at a football stadium, aims to bolster Orban’s case as a formidable and internationally endorsed leader.
“Complete and total support,” President Donald Trump affirmed in a video message last month to the Hungarian Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), underscoring his enduring alliance with Orban. This relationship, dating back to 2016, saw Orban become the first EU leader to back Trump’s presidential bid. It has since strengthened, with Orban actively campaigning for Trump’s re-election in 2024.
Orban’s political strategy has increasingly focused on portraying Ukraine as an adversary. This narrative has been amplified by recent events, including the disruption of the Druzhba oil pipeline, which crosses Ukraine, since January. The pipeline’s closure has left Hungary reliant on alternative fuel sources, such as imports from Croatia. Meanwhile, a new development emerged on Sunday: Serbian authorities reported explosives near the TurkStream gas pipeline close to their shared border, labeling it a terror attack on Hungary’s energy infrastructure.
However, some analysts suggest the incident may have been orchestrated. Opposition leader Peter Magyar, along with former intelligence insiders, accused Orban of collaborating with Serbian President Alexander Vucic to create a crisis. This move, they claim, could pressure voters to support Orban’s re-election. The accusation aligns with broader criticisms of Orban’s policies, including leaked private calls between Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto and Russian officials.
“Normal diplomacy,” Szijjarto defended the conversations, which revealed his close ties with Moscow. The transcripts suggest he shared sensitive EU discussions with Russian leaders and pushed for their exemption from sanctions. This has further eroded public trust in Orban’s leadership.
Despite these challenges, Orban’s campaign continues to leverage his friendship with Trump. Last October, Orban secured an exemption from US sanctions on Russian oil giants Rosneft and Lukoil, a deal Trump described as personal. If Orban loses, his successor would need to reapply for similar relief. Hungary’s reliance on Russian energy resources, including the Druzhba pipeline and TurkStream, remains a central issue in the election.