U.S. Vice-President JD Vance has insisted he was right to stage a two-day campaign visit to back Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán five days before he was voted out of office by opposition party Tisza's landslide victory.
Insisting Orbán was a 'great guy' who did a 'very good job', Vance told Fox News he was 'one of the few European leaders we've seen who's been willing to stand up to the bureaucracy in Brussels'. While he was sad Orbán had lost, he was sure the U.S. would 'work very well' with the new government.
Péter Magyar, who led Tisza to victory, had been critical of Vance's intervention, warning last week that 'no foreign country may interfere in Hungarian elections.' However, he acknowledged that the US is a 'strong and important' NATO partner and indicated a willingness to communicate with American officials.
Orbán will continue to run Hungary in a caretaker role until Magyar is sworn in, and the three party leaders with seats in parliament have been invited to meet President Tamás Sulyok. Sulyok is tasked with convening Hungary's new parliament and recommending the next prime minister by 12 May, with Magyar urging him to act swiftly.
In another development, Magyar stated he would appear in public radio and TV for the first time after leading Tisza to victory, although he refused an initial invitation citing the need for unbiased coverage.
Magyar has articulated plans to combat corruption, addressing issues stemming from Orbán's administration, and aims to unlock frozen EU funding and loans to improve Hungary's economic situation. Overall, there is anticipation in Hungary about the potential shifts in policy and governance under Magyar's leadership.
Insisting Orbán was a 'great guy' who did a 'very good job', Vance told Fox News he was 'one of the few European leaders we've seen who's been willing to stand up to the bureaucracy in Brussels'. While he was sad Orbán had lost, he was sure the U.S. would 'work very well' with the new government.
Péter Magyar, who led Tisza to victory, had been critical of Vance's intervention, warning last week that 'no foreign country may interfere in Hungarian elections.' However, he acknowledged that the US is a 'strong and important' NATO partner and indicated a willingness to communicate with American officials.
Orbán will continue to run Hungary in a caretaker role until Magyar is sworn in, and the three party leaders with seats in parliament have been invited to meet President Tamás Sulyok. Sulyok is tasked with convening Hungary's new parliament and recommending the next prime minister by 12 May, with Magyar urging him to act swiftly.
In another development, Magyar stated he would appear in public radio and TV for the first time after leading Tisza to victory, although he refused an initial invitation citing the need for unbiased coverage.
Magyar has articulated plans to combat corruption, addressing issues stemming from Orbán's administration, and aims to unlock frozen EU funding and loans to improve Hungary's economic situation. Overall, there is anticipation in Hungary about the potential shifts in policy and governance under Magyar's leadership.
