US Vice President JD Vance has been deployed to Hungary to campaign for Prime Minister Viktor Orban ahead of elections on April 12. Vance and Orban held an official meeting and press conference in Budapest, with Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto claiming the visit signals "a new golden age in US-Hungary relations." This move by the Trump administration allegedly breaks with conventional diplomatic practice of non-interference in foreign elections.

Viktor Orban, in power since the late 1990s, has become a figurehead for the global far-right and is running for his fifth consecutive term. He is at odds with the European Union over his allegiance to Russian President Vladimir Putin and opposition to supporting Ukraine's defense. Orban has proudly proclaimed Hungary an "illiberal democracy," though his Fidesz party faces accusations of state capture by controlling the judiciary, media, and universities.

Orban currently trails by double-digits in opinion polls, and his administration has been embarrassed by recent revelations of potential collusion with Russia and spying on political opponents. Despite this, the Trump regime and its MAGA movement admire Orban's crackdowns on immigration, LGBTQ+ rights, and press freedom, hailing his championing of "Western Christian values." Other far-right leaders, such as Marine Le Pen and Geert Wilders, have also voiced support for Orban's reelection.

The US regime has repeatedly rewarded Orban's stance on Ukraine, including exempting Hungary from sanctions on Russian energy. Traditionally, the US avoids active participation in foreign elections, making Vance's visit just days before the vote a highly unusual step. While Orban welcomes US support, he has criticized EU leaders for commenting on the election, decrying it as interference in Hungarian sovereignty.

Source: www.dw.com