US Vice-President JD Vance has defended his decision to conduct a two-day campaign visit to Hungary in support of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán just days before Orbán was decisively defeated in the country's recent parliamentary election. Vance expressed admiration for Orbán, describing him as a "great guy" who did a "very good job" and praising him as one of the few European leaders willing to challenge the bureaucracy of Brussels. Although Vance expressed sadness over Orbán's loss, he conveyed confidence that the United States would maintain strong working relations with Hungary's incoming government.
The election saw a landslide victory for the opposition alliance led by Péter Magyar and his party, Tisza, marking a significant shift in Hungary's political landscape after years of Orbán's leadership. Magyar had previously criticized Vance's intervention in the election campaign, emphasizing that "no foreign country may interfere in Hungarian elections." Despite this, Magyar acknowledged the importance of the US as a NATO ally, stating on Monday that he would be willing to engage with figures such as former President Donald Trump or other American officials if they reached out to him.
Following the election, Orbán remains in a caretaker role until Magyar is formally sworn in as prime minister. In the meantime, the three party leaders who have secured seats in parliament have been invited to meet with Hungarian President Tamás Sulyok on Wednesday. President Sulyok is tasked with convening the new parliament and recommending a candidate for prime minister by 12 May. Magyar has urged the president to expedite this process and then step down, accusing him of being a "puppet" of Orbán's government. Magyar has suggested that he could assume the prime ministership as early as 5 May, or potentially even sooner.
Despite these calls, Sulyok's office has indicated to the Hungarian media that he does not intend to resign. However, he is expected to discuss with the parliamentary party leaders the timing of the National Assembly's convening and the nomination of the new prime minister.
In a notable development, Magyar announced plans to appear on public radio and television on Wednesday, ahead of his meeting with the president. He remarked on his previous exclusion from public broadcasting during his time as opposition leader, noting that he had never been invited to appear on public TV until the day after his party's electoral victory. Initially, he declined an invitation to an interview but subsequently pledged to halt all news coverage on public state media until it could guarantee impartial reporting. Magyar proposed establishing a governing board to ensure the independence of public media, drawing comparisons to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and other public broadcasters known for editorial autonomy.
Magyar has outlined a robust agenda for his government, which won a two-thirds supermajority in the 199-seat parliament by securing 137 seats according to preliminary results. Although the results are not yet final, Magyar expressed confidence that his party's margin of victory would increase. This supermajority equips his government with the power to amend the constitution and reverse many changes enacted during Orbán's tenure.
One of Magyar's central themes has been addressing widespread corruption and economic underperformance, describing Hungary as the "poorest and most corrupt" member of the European Union. To tackle this, his administration intends to establish an Anti-Corruption Office and a National Asset Recovery and Protection Office. Additionally, Magyar plans to initiate the process for Hungary to join the European Public Prosecutor's Office, an EU body that combats fraud and corruption within member states.
Under Orbán's government, Hungary's political system came under intense scrutiny for cronyism, with public contracts frequently awarded to favored individuals and companies. Critics have also pointed to compromised judicial independence and weakened rule of law during Orbán's years in power. Magyar spoke candidly about the scale of corruption, stating that billions of euros have gone missing from state contracts and that corruption has occurred on an "industrial scale."
Another priority for Magyar's government will be unlocking billions of euros in European Union funding and loans that have been frozen due to concerns over Hungary's governance, rule of law, and democratic backsliding under Orbán. Approximately €17 billion (£14.8 billion) in EU funds have been suspended, and Hungary is also awaiting approval for an additional €16 billion in defense loans. Addressing the EU's concerns will be critical to restoring these financial flows.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen spoke with Magyar on Tuesday, emphasizing the need for "swift work to be done to... restore the rule of law [and] realign with our shared European values." The EU is also pressing Hungary to overturn a veto imposed by Orbán in the weeks before the election. This veto blocked €90 billion in aid to Ukraine, a contentious issue within the bloc. Magyar downplayed the veto's significance, noting that Hungary was one of three EU countries that had opted out of the loan to Ukraine last December.
Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz has called for the release of aid to Kyiv to proceed "very quickly" following the change in Hungary's government. Merz met with Magyar earlier this year in Munich, and Magyar intends to make Berlin one of his first foreign destinations as prime minister, signaling a desire to strengthen ties with Germany and the broader EU.
The transition in Hungary marks a dramatic political shift after more than a decade of Orbán's rule, which has been characterized by nationalist policies, skepticism toward the EU, and controversial changes to democratic institutions. Magyar's victory and his party's supermajority provide the opportunity to fundamentally reshape Hungary's governance, address corruption, and improve relations with the European Union and international partners.
As Hungary prepares for this new chapter, key developments in the coming days will include the convening of the National Assembly, the formal appointment of the next prime minister, and Magyar's efforts to reform state institutions, the judiciary, and public media. The international community, particularly the EU and NATO allies, will be closely watching how the new government navigates these reforms, restores democratic norms, and re-engages with European partners.
Meanwhile, the US administration, despite its earlier support for Orbán expressed by Vice-President Vance, has signaled readiness to work constructively with Péter Magyar's government. This pragmatic stance reflects the ongoing importance of Hungary as a strategic NATO ally in Central Europe, as well as broader geopolitical concerns in the region.
The coming weeks and months will be critical in determining Hungary's political trajectory and its role within the European Union, with implications for EU cohesion, regional security, and democratic governance.