Hungary’s opposition leader Péter Magyar has pledged to realign the country with its Western allies, accusing Prime Minister Viktor Orbán of undermining national interests through his close relationship with Russia.
In an interview with the Financial Times, Magyar, head of the rising Tisza party, said his government would restore Hungary’s credibility within the European Union and NATO, while maintaining a pragmatic approach to energy security. His remarks come as opinion polls suggest that Tisza currently leads Orbán’s ruling Fidesz party ahead of the April 2026 parliamentary elections.
Reasserting Hungary’s Western Identity
Magyar vowed that, if elected, his administration would honor Hungary’s international obligations, including commitments related to joining the Eurozone. “We are in the EU and NATO — our fundamental alliances that determine our security and our daily lives,” he said, criticizing Orbán’s frequent clashes with Western partners.
He accused the prime minister of being “the closest EU ally of Vladimir Putin” and claimed that the Russian president “has an interest in keeping Orbán in power.” Orbán has drawn criticism for opposing EU sanctions against Moscow and for maintaining warm ties with Russia since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Energy Deals and Political Fallout
Despite years of Western pressure to cut ties with Russia, Orbán recently secured a one-year exemption from U.S. sanctions on Russian energy imports. During his trip to Washington, Hungary also agreed to purchase $1.5 billion worth of nuclear fuel, LNG, and military technology from the United States, with additional commitments in American nuclear technology valued at up to $20 billion.
While the deal helped Orbán prevent a domestic energy crisis, Magyar condemned it as a “personal escape path,” claiming the prime minister “bent over backwards,” committing billions in U.S. purchases in exchange for the temporary sanctions relief.
Cyberattacks and Russian Disinformation
Magyar revealed that his party’s servers were recently targeted by hackers allegedly linked to Russia, in what he described as a sign of Kremlin interference in Hungary’s upcoming elections. Earlier, Russia’s foreign intelligence service (SVR) accused the EU and Ukraine of conspiring with Magyar to overthrow Orbán — allegations he dismissed as “obvious disinformation.”
EU officials also rejected Moscow’s claims, emphasizing Russia’s “track record of spreading misinformation.”
Balancing Energy Security and Geopolitics
Magyar’s position on Ukraine signals both alignment with EU principles and sensitivity to Hungary’s domestic politics. He said his government would recognize Moscow as the aggressor in the war and support calls for a ceasefire but would not alter current restrictions on military aid to Kyiv.
He pledged to gradually reduce Hungary’s dependence on Russian energy while maintaining the option to purchase Russian resources when necessary. “Ending dependence does not mean refusing to buy from them,” he explained, stressing that national interest and energy security would remain top priorities.
While critics argue that Magyar’s stance mirrors Orbán’s in many respects — including his promise to advocate for ethnic Hungarians in western Ukraine and to hold a referendum on Ukraine’s potential EU membership — he framed the upcoming vote as a referendum on Orbán’s leadership, not on Ukraine itself.
Confidence in U.S. Relations
Despite former U.S. President Donald Trump’s public endorsement of Orbán, Magyar expressed optimism about future relations with Washington. “If Trump lived in this country, he would have a different view of Viktor Orbán,” he said.
Rising Political Momentum
A poll by Závecz Research conducted in late October showed Tisza leading with 48% support, compared with 37% for Fidesz, while other smaller parties hovered around the 5% threshold required to enter parliament.
With growing voter frustration over corruption, energy costs, and international isolation, Magyar’s campaign is positioning itself as a pro-Western, reform-driven alternative seeking to “bring Hungary back into the European fold.”
