Will a possible change of government in Hungary, resulting from the country’s parliamentary election on April 12, improve Budapest’s relations with the EU and Ukraine?
Not necessarily, it seems. The leading opposition figure, Péter Magyar of the Tisza party, has so far articulated positions on Ukraine that closely align with those of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, despite presenting himself domestically as an anti‑establishment challenger.
JOIN US ON TELEGRAM
Follow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official.
EU officials frustrated by Orbán’s repeated blocking of support for Kyiv have hoped that a change in leadership could ease tensions, but Politico reports little evidence of a substantive policy shift.
On Ukraine, Magyar has opposed fast‑tracking EU accession, arguing that membership should instead be decided through a Hungarian referendum – a proposal that could delay the process indefinitely. He has also rejected providing military aid to Ukraine, insisting that such steps do not reflect Hungarian public opinion.
Magyar’s party has mirrored this approach in the European Parliament, voting against a €90 billion ($104 billion) EU loan package for Ukraine.
Politico notes that this vote reinforced concerns in Brussels that a Magyar‑led government would prioritize domestic political positioning over EU unity on Ukraine.
Like Orban, Magyar has framed his stance in nationalist terms, emphasizing Hungarian sovereignty and voter sentiment. He, too, has criticized Ukraine over its approach to Hungary’s ethnic minority in Transcarpathia and has said openly that Hungarian voters do not want a pro‑Ukrainian government.
Other Topics of Interest
