US Vice President J.D. Vance traveled to Hungary on Monday to meet with Prime Minister Viktor Orbán ahead of Sunday's parliamentary elections.
His visit is a statement of support for the right-wing leader in Hungary in the final stages of the election, where Orbán is facing a tough time regaining power, according to polls.
- We will talk about a number of issues related to the relationship between the United States and Hungary, J.D. Vance told reporters as he departed Andrews Air Force Base on the outskirts of the US capital, Washington, D.C.
- Of course, Europe, Ukraine and everything else will certainly play a prominent role, the US vice president added.
Vance is expected to meet with Orbán and also deliver a speech on the close partnership between the United States and Hungary, the vice president's office said.
Vance, 41, is one of the most vocal critics of progressive and centrist governments in Europe within the US administration. He is also one of the most ardent supporters of right-wing European parties.
Viktor Orbán has been in power in Hungary for 16 years. According to analysts, he has benefited from covert support from Russia to boost his chances of re-election.
But Hungarian voters seem to want to try something new. Opinion polls from independent institutes predict a clear victory for the pro-European opposition Tisza party, led by Péter Magyar.
In two years, Magyar has built an opposition movement capable of challenging the dominance of the incumbent Hungarian leader.
Pro-government institutions, however, predict a victory for Orbán’s coalition between Fidesz and KDNP.
Since returning to the White House, US President Donald Trump and his administration have broken with the tradition of being reluctant to interfere in foreign elections.
Instead, the Trump administration has openly and significantly shown support for leaders who are compatible with their ideology and diplomatic priorities.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio traveled to the Hungarian capital, Budapest, in mid-February, where he wished Orbán good luck in the election.
Orbán is particularly aligned with the Trump administration on issues of migration policy, which came into focus in Hungary during the refugee crisis 10 years ago.
He has visited Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida several times.
J.D. Vance's wife, Usha Vance, is also joining the trip to Hungary.
/ritzau/AFP
