On April 12th, the eyes of European capitals will be turned towards Hungary, where the political future of Viktor Orbán and the European Union is at stake. Legislative elections will be held, and the eurosceptic Hungarian Prime Minister, who has been in power for 16 years, is trailing behind in the polls against his opponent, Péter Magyar, a center-right euro MP and leader of the opposition party Tisza.
A defeat for Viktor Orbán would be welcomed by supporters of the European Union, given the recent escalation in tensions between the Hungarian Prime Minister and European institutions, particularly regarding the conflict in Ukraine.
Viktor Orbán is focusing his campaign on hostility towards Ukraine and the EU, aligning himself with Russia, as evidenced by his multiple visits to the Kremlin to meet Vladimir Putin since the beginning of the war.
In recent weeks, the Hungarian leader has escalated his hostility towards Ukraine by using his veto power within the EU to block a €90 billion European budget essential for Ukraine to avoid bankruptcy during the war. Orbán justifies this veto by accusing Kiev of delaying repairs to the Druzhba oil pipeline, crucial for Hungary’s supply of Russian oil.
There are close ties between the Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Moscow, which has been criticized by opposition leader Peter Magyar, who accuses Orbán of allowing Russian interference in the country’s elections.
The issue of the rule of law has been a point of contention between Orbán and the EU, with concerns raised over Hungary’s independence of the judiciary and press, oppression of minorities, and corruption. The European Commission has frozen €22 billion of funds allocated to Hungary since 2022, releasing €10 billion as part of a deal to lift Hungary’s veto on aid to Ukraine.
If Péter Magyar wins, efforts will be needed to restore democracy and the rule of law in Hungary, although this process will not be easy, as seen in Poland’s struggle under the Law and Justice party.
The situation in Hungary has drawn scrutiny from European lawmakers, with differing views on the state of democracy and the rule of law in the country. Vigilance is advised in monitoring the Hungarian situation, especially in light of historical tendencies towards a deep state and influence over media dating back to the communist regime.
