American Vice President JD Vance flew to Hungary on Monday April 6 in the evening to provide Donald Trump’s support for his ally, nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban, just before the legislative elections which promise to be very close on Sunday.
“We will discuss a certain number of things relating to relations between the United States and Hungary. Obviously, I’m sure that Europe and Ukraine and everything else will be discussed,” he told the press before departing from Andrews Air Force Base, near Washington, saying he was happy to join “his good friend” Viktor Orban. He is accompanied on this trip by his wife Usha Vance.
In addition to an interview with Viktor Orban, the vice-president planned to deliver a speech dedicated to the “rich partnership between Hungary and the United States,” according to a press release from his office.
Final stretch before the elections
The 41-year-old conservative is, within the American administration, one of the fiercest critics of centrist and progressive European governments, and one of the most fervent supporters of radical right groups in Europe. His visit is a show of support for Viktor Orban in the home stretch before the elections next Sunday.
The Hungarian Prime Minister, in power for 16 years and close to Moscow, would benefit, according to analysts, from secret help from Russia to increase his chances of re-election. Council of Europe parliamentarians were recently alarmed by the “toxic” nature of the campaign, marked by the “inflammatory propaganda” of the nationalist leader, faced with economic and social discontent.
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Polls from independent institutes predict an overwhelming victory for the Tisza party of the pro-European conservative Peter Magyar, who has succeeded in less than two years in building an opposition movement capable of shaking up the hegemony of the Hungarian leader who has established his country of 9.5 million inhabitants as a model of illiberal democracy. Pro-government institutions give the Fidesz-KDNP coalition of Viktor Orban, 62, the winner.
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Viktor Orban particularly close to the American government
Since his return to power, Donald Trump and his government have broken with the public reserve observed until now by the United States when it comes to elections abroad. The American administration now openly and strongly takes a stand for leaders deemed compatible with its diplomatic priorities as well as its ideology.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio also went to Budapest in mid-February, where he wished the “success” of his Hungarian ally. “President Trump is deeply committed to your success, because your success is our success,” he declared at a press conference alongside Viktor Orban. In a speech given for the Munich Security Conference in February, he called on Europeans to defend Western civilization threatened, according to the Trump administration, by mass immigration in particular.
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Viktor Orban is particularly close to the American government, particularly because of its anti-migrant policy. He visited Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago, Florida, residence several times. The American president sees him as a “truly strong and powerful leader, with the proven ability to produce phenomenal results”.
With AFP
Originally published at Almouwatin.com
