According to surveys, Viktor Orbán is finding it difficult to retain power. Vance is on his way to show his support.
The US Vice President, JD Vance, has left for Hungary on Monday, where he will meet Prime Minister Viktor Orbán ahead of Sunday’s parliamentary elections.
His visit is a declaration of support for the right-wing leader in Hungary in the final phase of the election, where according to opinion polls Orbán is finding it difficult to regain power.
– We will talk about a number of topics related to the relationship between the United States and Hungary, JD Vance tells reporters as he departs from Andrews Air Force Base on the outskirts of the US federal capital, Washington DC
– Of course, Europe, Ukraine and everything else will certainly play a prominent role, adds the American vice president.
Vance is expected to meet with Orbán and also give a speech on the close partnership between the United States and Hungary, the vice president’s office said.
41-year-old Vance is one of the sharpest critics of progressive and centrist governments in Europe within the US administration. He is also one of the staunchest supporters of right-wing European parties.
Viktor Orbán has been in power in Hungary for 16 years. According to analysts, he has benefited from covert support from Russia to increase the chances of a re-election.
But voters in Hungary seem to want to try something new. Opinion polls from independent institutes predict a clear victory for the pro-European opposition party Tisza, led by Péter Magyar.
In two years, Magyar has built an opposition movement capable of challenging the dominance of the incumbent Hungarian leader.
Pro-government institutions, on the other hand, predict a victory for Orbán’s coalition between Fidesz and KDNP.
Since US President Donald Trump returned to the White House, he and his administration have broken with tradition of being reluctant to interfere in foreign elections.
Instead, the Trump administration is openly and prominently showing support for leaders who are compatible with its ideology and diplomatic priorities.
The US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, traveled in mid-February to Hungary’s capital, Budapest, where he wished Orbán good luck in the election.
Orbán is particularly aligned with the Trump administration on issues of migration policy, which came into focus in Hungary during the refugee crisis 10 years ago.
He has visited Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida several times.
JD Vance’s wife, Usha Vance, is also taking part in the trip to Hungary.
/ritzau/AFP
