Vice President JD Vance visited Budapest to support Prime Minister Viktor Orbán ahead of Hungary’s upcoming election on April 12. Vance accused the European Union of threatening billions in aid due to Hungary’s border policies, arguing this is not foreign influence but a legitimate concern.
The Associated Press reports that independent polls show Orbán and his party, Fidesz, trailing their main opponent, Péter Magyar, among decided voters. Freedom House designates Hungary as “partly free,” citing issues with election fairness and stifling of independent institutions.
Vance praised Orbán’s leadership, calling him a defender of Western civilization and values such as freedom of speech and respect for minority rights. He urged Hungarian voters to support Orbán in the upcoming election, emphasizing sovereignty against EU bureaucracy.
European Union officials countered Vance’s claims, asserting that elections are solely the choice of citizens and praising efforts to strengthen Europe’s independence and protect democratic processes.