What does Vance’s visit to Budapest mean?
US Vice President JD Vance has visited Budapest ahead of the Hungarian parliamentary election and openly endorsed Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. He also accused the EU of "interfering in the election".
New fuel for the far-right engine
Aftonbladet examines the reasons for Vance's visit to Budapest:
“Orbán has basically written a manual for demolishing liberal democracy, which has inspired other far-right parties. Not least Donald Trump's Maga movement. Which explains yesterday's visit from JD Vance. If Orbán loses the election on Sunday it will be an historic moment. The momentum that has paved the way for the far right across most of Europe – and which has produced both Donald Trump and Brexit – would likely come to a halt.”
Backed by Washington, Jerusalem and Moscow
In La Vanguardia, commentator Enric Juliana voices his doubts that Orbán will lose:
“Is it possible to lose the election in Hungary when you have the backing of the US president, the Maga movement, the Israeli government and its powerful intelligence services, all of Europe's far-right parties, the Russian president and his experienced propaganda apparatus? … The Washington-Moscow-Jerusalem constellation highlights what is at stake here. The People's Republic of China, which also has significant economic interests in Hungary, is quietly watching events unfold. We are indeed witnessing the beginning of a new world order. Today, Hungary, a Central European country with a population of 9.5 million, is a key piece in the complex European game of chess.”
Munition for both sides
Both the government and the opposition will be feeling chuffed, notes political scientist Gábor Török on Facebook:
“Vance was really trying to be helpful, delivering munition to both sides. Yes, he said both things, even if the respective media bubbles only publish one side of the story: 'Viktor Orbán will win the election, I'm certain'. But also: 'We will work with whoever becomes Hungary's next leader.'”