Vance to Hungary for Orbán's election run

TT

Published 2026-04-02 21.53

            

          Vice President JD Vance visits Hungary ahead of the April 12 election. Archive photo. Photo: Paul            Sancya /AP/TT

There are strong headwinds in public opinion for Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. But the United States continues to drum up its support for the Hungarian leader ahead of the April 12 parliamentary election.

Vice President JD Vance will visit Orbán on April 7-8, the White House announced according to AFP. Vance will then "speak about the rich partnership between the United States and Hungary," a statement said.

Viktor Orbán, leader of the nationalist right-wing party Fidesz, has also received verbal support from President Donald Trump on repeated occasions in recent times.

With 16 years in power, he is facing one of his biggest political challenges to date. The challenger Péter Magyar, with his social conservative party Tisza, has a clear advantage in the opinion polls.

While Orbán increasingly looks east towards Russia, Magyar wants to steer Hungary back towards the EU community.