Overview
- Vance, who arrived in Budapest on Tuesday, stood beside Orbán to say he was “here to help” and planned to appear at a pro‑government rally ahead of Sunday’s parliamentary election.
- He accused EU “bureaucrats in Brussels” of foreign election interference and praised Orbán as a model for Europe, prompting opponent Péter Magyar to insist no foreign country may influence Hungary’s vote.
- Independent surveys show Fidesz trailing Magyar’s Tisza party by sizable margins among decided voters, and analysts point out that February’s visit by Secretary of State Marco Rubio did not boost Orbán in the polls.
- The result could affect Europe’s stance on Russia and support for Ukraine, as Orbán continues to buy Russian energy and last year received a U.S. exemption from sanctions on Russian oil and gas.
- Orbán has governed for 16 years and reshaped media and state institutions, and experts say challengers must win by a clear margin to overcome the electoral system’s tilt toward the ruling party.