🔗 Share this article

Throughout the 2016 US presidential election campaign, Viktor Orbán stood out as the exclusive European Union leader to back Donald Trump. This alignment came as no shock, in light of Mr Orbán's championing of contentious notions such as great replacement ideology and the crackdowns on media freedom. Observers observe that Hungary's premier essentially pioneered the Maga movement, with ex-Trump adviser Steve Bannon hailing Orbán as the "Trump before Trump".

Political Favors In advance of Hungarian Elections

Recently, ahead of pivotal polls in Hungary merely approaching in six months, the American leader reciprocated with support. While Orbán seeks a fifth consecutive term governing a nation he calls an illiberal state, his ruling party is behind in the polls. A visit to the US capital resulted in more than Trump campaign souvenirs; it brought far more significant pre-election gifts.

Waivers and Financial Shields

Although previously lecturing EU countries on the necessity to stop all fuel purchases from the Russian Federation, and warning of penalties against states persisting to import Russian energy, Donald Trump consented to grant a unique waiver for Hungary – the biggest user in the EU of Russian oil. Per the Hungarian leader, the American leadership also pledged to extend a fiscal buffer to Budapest if it encounters any future difficulties, given that Brussels persists in holding back large sums from the EU to Hungary due to rule-of-law breaches.

The particulars of this agreement are vague. However the US president has shown his readiness to support like-minded partners when the United States granted a a $20 billion loan to Argentina’s far-right president, Argentina's president. While Orbán failed to obtain a presidential tour to Budapest, the Washington talks nevertheless proved a successful endeavor.

EU Concerns and Global Ramifications

Among European leaders, Trump's actions will have highlighted the geopolitical stakes of the coming election, before which the opposition candidate, Magyar, holds a solid advantage in the polls. Heads of state are accustomed not to expect steady principles from the Trump administration, and accept the US president’s efforts to belittle the European Union. However Mr Orbán’s exemption – which came at the price of an pledge to purchase American natural gas and nuclear power – openly contradicts the bloc's aims to end Russian fossil fuel imports by 2027.

• From 2022 onward, the largest EU buyers of Russian oil, Hungary and Slovakia, have contributed well over £10bn to the Russian military campaign.
• Meanwhile, Budapest has repeatedly used the threat of its veto to stymie progress in Ukraine’s EU accession talks.
• As the EU attempts to develop a cohesive plan for supporting Kyiv, and strengthening its hand in any upcoming peace talks, Mr Orbán’s Putin-friendly presence at the international forums is still a key barrier.

Challenger's Position

The opposition candidate has avoided vowing a major policy shift on the Ukraine conflict, and centered his campaign on home affairs, while stressing the importance for the country to begin operating as a productive EU partner. After years of persistent provocations, the European Union can only wait and hope. Orbán's disregard to core EU ideals, like the protection of minority groups and the independence of civil society institutions, has persisted as a humiliating embarrassment for the European Union. His ongoing blocking tactics on the Ukraine issue risks undermining its future security.