Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban seeks re-election in Sundays vote

US Vice President to Visit Hungary Amidst Electoral Tensions

United States Vice President JD Vance is set to travel to Budapest on Tuesday for bilateral meetings with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. The White House announced the visit last week, which comes as Orban’s Fidesz Party faces its most challenging election in over a decade.

In February, US President Donald Trump endorsed Orban ahead of Hungary’s April 12 parliamentary elections, while US Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited the country that month to show support. Professor Kim Lane Scheppele, an expert on Hungarian politics at Princeton University, notes that Vance’s trip is intended to highlight the close relationship between Trump and Orban.

Orban’s Fidesz Party has been marked by controversy, including reforms that critics say have compromised judicial independence and electoral fairness. Despite this, most polls show Orban trailing opposition leader Peter Magyar and his Tisza Party. Magyar, a former high-ranking Fidesz official, has emerged as a popular voice criticizing Orban’s rule.

Magyar’s campaign focuses on issues such as corruption, social services, economic conditions, and relations with the European Union. The European Union had previously suspended billions of euros in funding for Hungary due to concerns over democratic backsliding and judicial independence. Magyar has pledged to restore suspended funds through reforms.

Orban’s government has been a source of inspiration for the US far right, including prominent members of Trump’s administration. Vance himself has enjoyed close relations with Orban’s government, which has hosted events such as the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). The conference was held in Budapest in 2024 and featured a video message from Trump praising Orban for his efforts to “rescue Western civilization.”

Source: Al Jazeera