JD Vance defends backing ‘great guy’ Orbán’s campaign after landslide defeat
JD Vance defends backing ‘great guy’ Orbán’s campaign after landslide defeat
Following a significant electoral shift, US Vice President JD Vance has defended his decision to support Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán just days before his defeat by the opposition party Tisza. Vance emphasized that Orbán was a ‘great guy’ who ‘did a very good job,’ highlighting his stance against European bureaucratic institutions. The two-day campaign visit occurred five days prior to Orbán’s removal from power, underscoring Vance’s alignment with the leader’s policies despite the opposition’s victory.
Magyar’s Response to US Interference
Péter Magyar, Tisza’s leader, criticized Vance’s involvement, asserting that ‘no foreign country may interfere in Hungarian elections.’ However, he later acknowledged the US as a ‘strong and important’ NATO partner, expressing openness to dialogue if called. Magyar’s party secured a ‘super majority’ of 137 parliamentary seats, positioning them to reshape Hungary’s governance.
“No foreign country may interfere in Hungarian elections,” Magyar warned last week. “But the US is a strong and important NATO partner, and if President Donald Trump or anyone else called me, I would talk to them.”
Magyar has outlined immediate goals, including convening the new parliament and recommending a successor to Prime Minister Orbán by 12 May. President Tamás Sulyok, who will oversee these tasks, is expected to meet with three party leaders on Wednesday. While Sulyok has declined to resign, he is anticipated to coordinate the timing of the National Assembly’s session and propose a new prime minister.
Media Independence and Anti-Corruption Measures
Magyar’s administration aims to establish independent state media, mirroring models like the BBC. He pledged to suspend news coverage on public platforms until unbiased reporting is ensured. This focus on transparency comes amid accusations that Orbán’s era of governance allowed cronyism to flourish, with public contracts funneled to favored individuals and judicial independence eroded.
“Hungary has been robbed bare, with billions vanishing from state contracts,” Magyar said. “Corruption operated on an industrial scale under Orbán’s leadership.”
Magyar has vowed to create an Anti-Corruption Office and a National Asset Recovery and Protection Office. These initiatives, he stated, would address systemic issues and align Hungary with EU standards, including joining the European Public Prosecutor’s Office. The new government also plans to unlock suspended EU funds, totaling an estimated €17bn, and secure additional €16bn in defense loans.
EU’s Push for Rule of Law Reforms
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen praised Magyar’s efforts, stating that “swift work to be done to restore the rule of law and realign with our shared European values” is essential. Meanwhile, EU leaders are urging Hungary to revoke Orbán’s veto on €90bn in Ukraine aid. Magyar dismissed the veto as irrelevant, noting Hungary was among three nations that opted out of the loan in December.
“Hungary was one of three countries that opted out of the loan last December,” Magyar clarified. “The veto is no longer a concern.”
Magyar’s early focus also includes visiting Berlin, Germany’s capital, as one of his first foreign destinations. This move signals a new era of cooperation with EU allies, as the incoming government seeks to rebuild trust and address the challenges of democratic backsliding that defined Orbán’s tenure.
