U.S. Vice President Vance Arrives Ahead of Hungary’s Parliamentary Election to Boost Orbán’s Campaign

On April 7, just ahead of Hungary’s parliamentary election on the 12th, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance arrived in Hungary for a two-day visit aimed at bolstering the campaign of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, whose populist conservative government faces a difficult electoral battle.

Vance’s Visit

According to Reuters, Vance met with Orbán and jointly attended a campaign rally. Speaking to Hungary’s state-owned television station upon his arrival with his wife, Vance stated: "This visit clearly demonstrates that U.S.-Hungarian relations are entering a new golden era." He will hold discussions with Hungarian leadership on issues including immigration, global security, economic cooperation, and energy collaboration.

As reported by Bloomberg News, Hungary’s oil and gas company MOL will agree to purchase 500,000 tons of crude oil from the United States, amounting to approximately $500 million.

President Trump has consistently shown support for right-wing leaders who share his ideology, such as those in Argentina and Japan. The rare move of sending the U.S. vice president in person to support Orbán is another clear example of this trend.

Asli Aydintasbas, visiting scholar at the Brookings Institution, noted: "Vance’s visit is not routine diplomacy—it is a clear signal of support at a critical moment in Orbán’s political career. For the Trump administration, Orbán is not only a conservative ideological ally but also a key figure in efforts to build an illiberal bloc in Europe. If Orbán loses, this political current would suffer a major setback."

President Trump, who is currently issuing ultimatums to Iran, has already publicly expressed his support for Orbán, praising him as a “truly strong leader.” Orbán and his party, Fidesz-MPP, are facing their toughest election since returning to power in 2010. In most polls without clear bias, they trail the center-right opposition party, the Alliance of the People’s Freedom Party (TISZA), led by Peter Magyar.

Surveys indicate that the ruling Fidesz-MPP under Prime Minister Orbán lags behind the TISZA party led by Magyar by 19 to 23 percentage points among likely voters.

Before Vance’s arrival, Magyar posted a warning on the X platform about foreign interference, writing: "This is our nation. Hungary’s history is not written in Washington, Moscow, or Brussels—but in the streets and squares of Hungary."

Rubio’s Visit

On February 17 this year, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also visited Budapest. During a joint press conference with Orbán, Rubio declared that U.S.-Hungarian relations are entering a "golden age," and stated that Washington stands ready to provide financial assistance to Budapest if needed.

Standing beside Orbán, Rubio said: "President Trump closely follows your success—because your victory is our victory."

Rubio added: "We hope you continue to lead. We wish for sustained economic prosperity here. Hungary’s flourishing aligns with American national interests. As long as you remain Prime Minister and lead this country, Hungary’s success is our interest."

Rubio even stated: "If you face financial difficulties, economic stagnation, or threats to national stability, I believe President Trump would be deeply concerned and willing to help—not only because of your good relationship with him, but because Hungary matters greatly to us."

Trump’s Support for Orbán to Divide the EU

Trump has repeatedly publicly backed Orbán, calling him a "truly strong leader." Acting as a national leader, Orbán has used the EU’s unanimous voting mechanism to block EU aid to Ukraine, effectively becoming Putin’s proxy in Europe. As a friend of both Putin and Trump, Orbán is seen by them as a "truly strong leader."

The South China Morning Post notes that this Hungarian election has the most far-reaching implications for Europe. For Russia and the United States under Trump’s leadership, a defeat of Orbán’s party by Peter Magyar’s Alliance of the People’s Freedom Party (TISZA) would mean losing a consistent partner who has repeatedly obstructed EU actions against them and opposed certain social and green agendas within the EU.

Source: rfi

Original: toutiao.com/article/1861855051310083/

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