JD Vance defends backing ‘great guy’ Orbán’s campaign after landslide defeat
JD Vance Defends Support for Orbán Amid Tisza’s Electoral Triumph
US Vice President JD Vance has defended his decision to visit Hungary and endorse Viktor Orbán’s campaign just days before the opposition party Tisza secured a decisive victory. Despite Orbán’s ouster, Vance praised him as a “great guy” who “did a very good job,” emphasizing his willingness to challenge European bureaucratic norms in Brussels. He acknowledged the loss but expressed confidence in the US’s ability to collaborate with the new administration, stating the relationship would “work very well.”
Magyar’s Political Victory and Transition Challenges
Magyar’s party, Tisza, won a supermajority of 137 parliamentary seats, according to preliminary results. This majority grants them the power to reshape the constitution and reverse policies from Orbán’s tenure. However, Orbán will retain a caretaker position until Magyar’s inauguration, with the president expected to convene the National Assembly and propose a successor by 12 May. Magyar has called for Sulyok to act swiftly, branding him a “puppet” of the former government.
“No foreign country may interfere in Hungarian elections,” Magyar warned last week. Yet he later acknowledged the US’s importance as a NATO ally, saying he would engage if contacted by Trump or others.
Magyar also announced his intention to appear on public media ahead of meeting Sulyok. He recounted being denied TV access for years until Monday, when he was invited after securing power. Magyar initially refused, vowing to ensure unbiased coverage by establishing a media oversight board akin to the BBC’s model.
EU Funding and Corruption Reform
Magyar has pledged to prioritize unlocking €17bn in suspended EU funds and additional €16bn in defense loans. He aims to address systemic corruption, including billions lost in state contracts under Orbán’s administration. His government will create an Anti-Corruption Office and a National Asset Recovery and Protection Agency, while pursuing EU membership in the European Public Prosecutor’s Office.
“Hungary has been robbed bare,” Magyar stated, highlighting the scale of embezzlement and judicial erosion during Orbán’s rule.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen commended Magyar’s efforts to restore rule of law and align with shared European values. Meanwhile, EU leaders pressed Hungary to lift its veto on €90bn in Ukraine aid, a move Orbán had blocked prior to the election. Magyar dismissed the veto’s relevance, noting Hungary was among three nations that opted out of the loan in December.
Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz urged rapid release of the aid, meeting Magyar in Munich earlier this year. The new leader plans to make Berlin a key foreign destination, signaling a shift in diplomatic focus. As the political landscape reshapes, the future of Hungary’s governance remains a focal point for European partners.
