The long-standing leadership of Viktor Orbán concluded on Sunday as Péter Magyar from the Tisza party achieved a significant electoral victory, defeating Hungary’s prime minister who had been in office for 16 years.
On Monday, Magyar expressed his willingness to engage in a conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, emphasizing that he would encourage him to bring an end to the conflict in Ukraine. This statement follows Hungary’s outgoing prime minister’s previous remarks regarding U.S. President Donald Trump, who, along with his administration, had openly supported Orbán and attended his campaign events.
Magyar’s victory and Orbán’s removal have been positively received by several European nations, including Poland, France, and Germany, as well as by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Orbán faced criticism from various European partners for his frequent use of Hungary’s veto to obstruct EU initiatives, according to reports from NBC News.
The newly elected prime minister, Péter Magyar, has made specific comments regarding Trump, commending the U.S. president while also critiquing Orbán, who held the premiership continuously since 2010.
In a social media post dated November 8 of last year, Magyar noted that Trump “has never been afraid to stand up for open, straightforward debates with his political opponents,” contrasting this with Orbán’s lack of such engagement over the past two decades.
Magyar added that Trump does not prioritize “foreign interests” and has made decisions that benefit American businesses. He highlighted Trump’s attempts to mediate a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, which have been embroiled in conflict since Russia’s invasion in February 2022.
Following his decisive election win, Magyar reiterated on Monday that he would encourage Putin to end the war in Ukraine if given the opportunity to speak with him.
During his inaugural press conference after the election, Magyar stated, “If Vladimir Putin calls, I’ll answer. If we were to talk, I would suggest that it would be preferable to stop the violence after four years and conclude the war.” He added, “It would likely be a brief conversation, and I doubt he would heed my advice to end the conflict,” remarks that many in the European Union would likely find encouraging, as reported by AP.
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