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TRANSCRIPT
Hungarians will go to the polls on Sunday in an election with significant consequences for Europe and Ukraine - and the United States is getting involved.
Vice President JD Vance made a visit this week, where he endorsed the sitting Prime Minister, spoke at his rallies, and even phoned Donald Trump.
VANCE: "Mr President, you are on with about 5,000 Hungarian patriots, and I think they love you even more than they love (Hungarian Prime Minister) Viktor Orbán."
TRUMP: "Well, I can't believe that. I can't believe that because I love Hungary and I love that Viktor. I'll tell you, he's a fantastic man. We've had a tremendous relationship, and he does a job. Remember this, he didn't allow people to storm your country and invade your country like other people have, and ruin their countries, frankly.”
Prime Minister Victor Orbán has been in power for 16 consecutive years, but this time, conservative challenger Peter Magyar appears to be well ahead in the polls.
Mr Orbán says he's happy to have US backing in such a tough race.
"We thank President Trump and Vice President Vance for standing up for Hungary in recent years, and they continue to do so today. The United States is the strongest country in the world, and I am pleased to say that they are our allies today. The peace and security of Hungary is thus guaranteed.”
Other European Union leaders may not be so pleased.
Under Mr Orbán and his nationalist Fidesz party, Hungary has often been a thorn in the EU's side, especially in recent years, as he moved to block aid for Ukraine and sanctions on Russia.
The centre-right opposition Tisza Party is led by Péter Magyar, a conservative who's pro EU, pro NATO, and currently sits in the European Parliament.
He says Russia is too involved in his country's affairs, and Hungary has become unconstructive.
"I think this really will be a referendum on the place of our country in the world. And that doesn't bode well for Fidesz. Because St Stephen decided the place of Hungary, for more than a thousand years he dedicated our country to Europe, and our ancestors fought to belong to Europe.”
Mr Orbán is regarded as a friend of the Kremlin: he's dampened efforts to curtail its war on Ukraine, and remained commuted to purchasing Russian oil.
Amid allegations of Russian interference in the campaign, he's been endorsed by Russian President Vladimir Putin, and accused Ukraine of attempting to influence the election outcome.
"There’s a plan to install a pro-Ukrainian government in Hungary. But we won’t let a pro-Ukrainian government be formed, because this country needs a nationalist government.”
It's a message JD Vance turned overtly toward the European Union more broadly during his visit.
“What has happened in this country, what has happened in the midst of this election campaign is one of the worst examples of foreign election interference that I've ever seen or ever even read about. The bureaucrats in Brussels have tried to destroy the economy of Hungary. They have tried to make Hungary less energy independent. They have tried to drive up costs for Hungarian consumers, and they've done it all because they hate this guy.”
The comments seem to contradict Washington's efforts to push allies to break with Russian energy exports, but comport with a broader realignment occurring in Europe.
It's a geopolitical shift Donald Trump Junior has also raised while he was in Bosnia - on the same day Mr Vance was in nearby Hungary.
“The European Union has been a little bit of a mess. I see that creating major fractures in the European Union between those few countries in eastern Europe that actually still believe in common sense, and Western Europe where that’s clearly missing in the political discourse these days.”
Critics argue it's Mr Orbán who has damaged political discourse in Hungary, accusing him of consolidating media power and overhauling the electoral system to his advantage.
He denies these accusations, but that hasn't stopped the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe from sending a mission to observe Sunday's election.
Opposition leader Peter Magyar has consistently called Hungary the "poorest and most corrupt" country in the EU throughout his campaign.
But he's also maintained a close focus on bread and butter issues - like this younger voter.
"The state of public services such as hospitals, education and public transport is catastrophic. We should change these. They (the government) have not managed to do so in the past 16 years.”
Mr Orban says now is not the time to try something new.
"Now is not the time for taking risks, for change, for uncertainty, or for adventurism. We may have to try new things someday, but I am absolutely certain that the next four years will not be the time for that. Over the next four years, we’ll need a clear head, and steady hands to protect everything we’ve worked so hard for.”
Voters will have their say on April 12.
