Center-Right Party’s Overwhelming Victory in Hungarian Election Could Boost EU Support for Ukraine

After 16 years in power, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban was resoundingly defeated in the country’s general election on April 12. The victory of the center-right Tisza Party led by Peter Magyar — aided by record turnout that produced a parliamentary supermajority, meaning that Magyar can now command enough support to amend Hungary’s constitution — will allow the new government to begin unwinding key elements of Orban’s populist political system.

Russian Interference in Hungary’s Election Fails

Orban maintained arguably the closest working relationship with Moscow of any EU member state, even as relations between Russia and the West deteriorated.

This cooperation was on full display in the energy sector, with Hungary importing Russian crude via the Druzhba pipeline and remaining heavily dependent on Russian supplies for its energy security. Orban also pursued major projects, such as the Russian-backed Paks nuclear expansion. Additionally, Hungary has been blocking a 90 billion euro ($105 billion) EU loan package that Ukraine desperately needs to sustain its war effort beyond this spring while similarly obstructing Ukraine’s accession into the European Union’s fold.

Last October, Orban reportedly told Vladimir Putin, “I am at your service.” The Kremlin appeared to be returning that loyalty through influence operations aimed at shaping the election, with Russian intelligence operatives reportedly even fabricating an assassination attempt to rally Orban’s supporters. In a striking echo of Moscow’s tactics, Peter Szijjarto, Hungary’s minister of foreign affairs and trade, accused Ukraine of attempting to interfere in the election.

In the end, none of these manipulation attempts succeeded. Despite his longstanding partnership with Orban, Russian President Vladimir Putin failed to deliver him a political lifeline.

Russia is already lamenting Orban’s fall. Following Magyar’s triumph, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov emphasized that the Kremlin would not offer the new premier its congratulations.

Implications of Magyar’s Victory for Ukraine

While Magyar campaigned on restoring Hungary’s rule of law, his foreign policy posture remains vague on Russia and Ukraine, as his victory speech demonstrated. He has struck a pragmatic tone, signaling openness to dialogue with Moscow — remarking that if Vladimir Putin were to call, he would engage in the conversation and press for an end to the war in Ukraine. At the same time, Magyar has pointed to a recalibration toward Europe, pledging to lift Hungary’s veto so that the European Commission can proceed with its loan package for Kyiv. At the same time, Magyar is hardly marching in lockstep with Brussels, having rejected fast-tracking Ukraine’s EU accession and insisting that such a decision should be put to a referendum.

EU Still Confronts Russian Meddling in Member State Elections

The challenge of Russian electoral interference goes beyond Hungary.

EU member state Bulgaria will hold a snap parliamentary election on April 19. Sofia has already asked the European Union’s diplomatic agency, the European External Action Service (EEAS), to detect and analyze campaigns by foreign actors to manipulate public opinion.

This is a step in the right direction. The European Union previously deployed Hybrid Rapid Response Teams — whose role is “to prepare against and counter hybrid threats and campaigns” — to Moldova ahead of that country’s 2025 parliamentary elections, which were also targeted by Russia.

NATO operates similar units, called Hybrid Support Teams, “which provide tailored targeted assistance to Allies upon their request, in preparing against and responding to hybrid activities.” Washington should encourage their use. The United States can help Bulgaria counter Russia’s election interference by sharing intelligence on foreign influence operations, strengthening cybersecurity around election systems, and supporting efforts to detect and respond to Moscow’s influence operations.

Washington should also support and echo EU efforts to impose sanctions against individuals or entities orchestrating influence operations in Bulgaria. While such sanctions are unlikely to deter the Kremlin, imposing them can assist in alerting voters to Russian manipulation schemes.

Ivana Stradner is a research fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD). For more analysis from Ivana, please subscribe HERE. Follow Ivana on X @ivanastradner. Follow FDD on X @FDD. FDD is a Washington, DC-based, nonpartisan research institute focused on national security and foreign policy.