- US Vice President JD Vance is in Budapest to support Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán ahead of Sunday's parliamentary elections. Vance said he’s “here to help him in this election campaign” and that he was expecting him to win the vote on Sunday.
- Orbán's Fidesz party is significantly behind the opposition Tisza party, led by Péter Magyar, in recent polls, with Magyar's party at 58% to Orbán's 35%.
- Vance criticized EU 'bureaucrats in Brussels' for alleged election interference and attempts to harm Hungary's economy, praising Orbán for advocating for his country and 'western civilization' values.
- Orbán, a key European ally of the Trump administration, has governed Hungary for 16 years, implementing policies that restrict the judiciary, press freedom, and LGBTQ+ rights, and has been unsupportive of Ukraine.
- Despite Vance's efforts, previous US official visits have not boosted Orbán's campaign, and polls suggest his time as the EU's longest-serving head of government may be ending due to voter frustration with corruption and the economy.
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