JD Vance defends backing ‘great guy’ Orbán’s campaign after landslide defeat
JD Vance Supports Viktor Orbán Despite Tisza’s Landslide Victory
US Vice-President JD Vance defended his decision to endorse Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán following the opposition party Tisza’s overwhelming electoral triumph. Despite Orbán’s recent removal from office, Vance praised him as a “great guy” who “did a very good job” in his tenure. He highlighted Orbán’s willingness to challenge bureaucratic norms in Brussels, calling him “one of the few European leaders we’ve seen who’s been willing to stand up to the bureaucracy in Brussels.”
Vance expressed regret over Orbán’s loss but assured that the U.S. would “work very well” with the new administration. Péter Magyar, the leader of Tisza, initially criticized the U.S. intervention, warning that “no foreign country may interfere in Hungarian elections.” However, he later acknowledged the U.S. as a “strong and important” NATO ally, stating he would engage with them if contacted by President Donald Trump or others.
Transition and New Priorities
President Tamás Sulyok will serve as Hungary’s interim leader until Magyar is officially sworn in. The three parliamentary leaders from Tisza have been invited to meet Sulyok on Wednesday, when he will be tasked with assembling the new parliament and recommending a successor by May 12. Magyar has urged Sulyok to act swiftly and resign, labeling him a “puppet” of Orbán’s regime.
Magyar has outlined a series of initiatives for his party, which secured a “super majority” of 137 seats in preliminary results. He aims to boost Hungary’s EU funding and loans, which were frozen due to concerns over rule of law and democratic backsliding. With 199 total parliamentary seats, the new government holds constitutional authority to enact sweeping reforms.
EU Funding and Ukraine Aid
Magyar has emphasized restoring Hungary’s reputation as the EU’s most corrupt member, pledging to establish an Anti-Corruption Office and a National Asset Recovery and Protection Agency. He also plans to expedite the process of joining the European Public Prosecutor’s Office. Orbán’s government was known for its cronyism, funneling public contracts to loyalists while weakening judicial independence.
Magyar argued that Hungary’s economic struggles and systemic corruption have been exacerbated by Orbán’s policies, with billions lost in state contracts. He aims to unlock suspended EU funds, including €17bn in grants and €16bn in defense loans. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen noted her conversation with Magyar on Tuesday, stating there was “swift work to be done to… restore the rule of law [and] realign with our shared European values.”
Meanwhile, EU leaders are pressuring Hungary to reverse Orbán’s veto on €90bn in Ukraine aid. Magyar dismissed the veto’s significance, citing Hungary’s role as one of three nations that declined the loan in December. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasized the need for rapid aid disbursement, meeting Magyar in Munich earlier this year. The new leader plans to visit Berlin soon, making it a priority destination for his administration.
