Mr. Vance’s Hungarian Shame

As Hungary’s prime minister-elect, Magyar has promised to pursue those who “plundered, looted, betrayed, indebted and ruined” his country. Magyar’s campaign slogan was straightforward: the election was “a choice between East or West, propaganda or honest public discourse, corruption or clean public life.” Not surprisingly, his victory was quickly welcomed by politicians across the EU. During the election campaign, Magyar had pledged a comprehensive anti-corruption ​drive, in addition to mending EU relations and moving away from pro-Russian policies and energy dependence. At bottom, the force of Magyar’s argument was that the Orbán government has been “betraying Hungarian and European interests.” The election results also remove a stubborn impediment to the EU’s attempts to provide support for Ukraine’s war effort by means of interest from Russian frozen assets. Orban has blocked a 90 billion (105 billion) loan for Kyiv as well as various attempts to increase sanctions on Russia. Considered the chief “internal disruptor” within the 27 member bloc, Orbán has consistently sought to block the EU’s efforts at support for Ukraine, including Ukraine’s potential EU membership. According to Mujtaba Rahman, managing director for Europe at the Eurasia Group, the election result “is a game-changer and will allow Magyar ​to govern with a free hand.” “Most importantly,” noted Rahman, “he will be able to unwind Orbán’s autocracy and deliver on all of ​the reforms the EU is demanding.” During his tenure, the right-wing populist Orbán has attempted to make Hungary what he has termed an “illiberal democracy.” What has disturbed EU member nations in particular is Orbán’s close relationship with Vladimir Putin, causing some critics to label him Putin’s “Trojan horse.” And tellingly, following Péter Magyar’s election on Sunday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced that Russia would not congratulate the Hungarian opposition Tisza party leader on his election victory because Hungary is an “unfriendly” country. What a difference twenty-four hours can make! And indeed reports from a Hungarian government source indicate that Russian intelligence and disinformation networks had been actively working to influence the election. According to the transcript of one government source, Orbán, in an October phone call to Putin, stated that their “friendship” had risen “to such a high level” that “I can help in any way.” In concluding the conversation, Orbán reportedly informed Putin, “In any matter where I can be of assistance, I am at your service. ” Orbán’s close relationship to Moscow makes it all the more significant—and disturbing—that the Hungarian autocrat has received consistent endorsement from the current U.S. administration. President Trump has characterized him as a “fantastic guy” and “powerful leader.” Writing on Truth Social on Sunday, ahead of the election day vote, Trump declared: “My Administration stands ready to use the full Economic Might of the United States to strengthen Hungary’s economy, as we have done for our Great Allies in the past, if Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and the Hungarian People ever need it.” As an expression of Trump’s blessing, Vice President Vance was dispatched to Budapest in the week leading up to the election in a show of support for Orbán’s reelection campaign. Vance vowed to “help” Orbán win during his visit, just as Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in his own visit to the Hungarian capital in February, proclaimed to Orbán: “Trump is deeply committed to your success.” And speaking at a conspicuously MAGA-like rally in Budapest, Vance continued his criticism of Ukraine’s President Zelensky, which had begun a year ago while Zelensky was visiting the White House. As might be expected, Vance was also critical of European leaders, portraying them as hostile to both Hungary and the U.S. He further accused the media of double standards in their coverage of both (alleged) foreign interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election as well as the Hungarian election. With supreme sarcasm, the U.S. Vice President noted: “But what’s not foreign ​influence is when the European Union threatens billions of dollars withheld from Hungary because you guys protect your borders What’s not foreign influence is when the Ukrainians shut down pipelines, causing suffering among the Hungarian ​people in an effort to influence an election.” Yet, it was only days after Vance’s Hungarian visit to campaign for Orbán and his last-minute cheerleading that the stunning defeat of the EU’s longest-tenured leader occurred. Late on Sunday numerous European leaders expressed enthusiastic congratulations to Orbán’s pro-EU challenger, Péter Magyar. Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, spoke for many in a post on X: “Hungary has chosen Europe. Europe has always chosen Hungary. A country reclaims its European path. The Union grows stronger.” Von der Leyen compared Hungary’s ousting of Orbán to the country’s 1956 anti-Soviet uprising and its 1989 break with communism – a time in which the Hungarian people collectively roared “Ruszkik haza!” (“Russians, go home!”). Following the election results, Magyar stressed the need for U.S.-backed security guarantees for Ukraine. Those security guarantees were spelled out in the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, which was signed by four nations—the U.S., Great Britain, Russia, and Ukraine. At the same time, Magyar warned against any vague assurances at this stage in Ukraine’s history—assurances that have been denied by Moscow under Putin’s tenure and forgotten by the U.S. When asked about the pressure placed on Ukraine by President Trump to reach a “peace deal,” Magyar was matter-of-fact, acknowledging that “Everyone in Hungary knows that Ukraine is the victim in this war.” He further insisted that “no country has the right to tell another to give up territory after a four-year war.” To insist on such a “peace” agreement, he added, is “outrageous, hypocritical rhetoric,” because in a reversed situation, no one would give up Hungarian regions. What is remarkable is that Vice President Vance, while onstage with Orbán in Budapest, insisted that Hungary had faced “one of the worst examples of foreign election interference that I have ever seen or ever even read about.” He was not speaking of Russian interference, however. Counterintuitively, Vance added that “the interference that’s come from the bureaucracy in Brussels has been truly disgraceful.” Disgraceful is indeed the right word to capture the Vice President’s actions and words. Mr. Vance is clearly confused as it concerns international relations and what constitutes justice. One truly wonders where he has been living in recent years.