US Vice-President JD Vance has insisted he was right to stage a two-day campaign visit to back Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán five days before he was voted out of office by the opposition party Tisza's landslide victory. Insisting Orbán was a 'great guy' who did a 'very good job', Vance told Fox News he was 'one of the few European leaders we've seen who's been willing to stand up to the bureaucracy in Brussels'.
While he was saddened by Orbán's loss, he expressed confidence that the US would 'work very well' with the new government led by Péter Magyar.
Magyar, who spearheaded Tisza's victory, had been critical of Vance's intervention during the campaign, asserting that 'no foreign country may interfere in Hungarian elections'. However, Magyar acknowledged the significance of the US as a 'strong and important' NATO partner.
Orbán will remain in a caretaker role until Magyar is sworn in. The incoming prime minister has urged the current president to expeditiously convene Hungary’s new parliament and appoint a new prime minister by May 12. Magyar has indicated that he could assume power by May 5 or sooner.
With a 'super majority' of 137 seats according to preliminary results, Magyar's party is poised to implement significant reforms, including the creation of an Anti-Corruption Office and initiatives to restore EU funding suspended due to concerns about rule of law under Orbán’s administration. With Hungary previously described as the poorest and most corrupt member of the EU, Magyar aims to tackle cronyism and misuse of public funds prevalent during Orbán's rule.
While he was saddened by Orbán's loss, he expressed confidence that the US would 'work very well' with the new government led by Péter Magyar.
Magyar, who spearheaded Tisza's victory, had been critical of Vance's intervention during the campaign, asserting that 'no foreign country may interfere in Hungarian elections'. However, Magyar acknowledged the significance of the US as a 'strong and important' NATO partner.
Orbán will remain in a caretaker role until Magyar is sworn in. The incoming prime minister has urged the current president to expeditiously convene Hungary’s new parliament and appoint a new prime minister by May 12. Magyar has indicated that he could assume power by May 5 or sooner.
With a 'super majority' of 137 seats according to preliminary results, Magyar's party is poised to implement significant reforms, including the creation of an Anti-Corruption Office and initiatives to restore EU funding suspended due to concerns about rule of law under Orbán’s administration. With Hungary previously described as the poorest and most corrupt member of the EU, Magyar aims to tackle cronyism and misuse of public funds prevalent during Orbán's rule.
