Hungary’s incoming political leadership will be obliged to keep open channels with Russian President Vladimir Putin regardless of changes in government, according to Péter Magyar, whose Tisza party won the most votes in the country’s recent parliamentary election.
Hungary will inevitably need to sustain a working relationship with the Russian president even if a new government takes office, Péter Magyar, leader of the Tisza party, has said.
In an interview with the Hungarian newspaper Népszava, Magyar argued that geography and structural dependencies would continue to shape Budapest’s foreign policy.
“We will have to sit down at the negotiating table with the Russian president. Neither Russia’s nor Hungary’s geographical position will change. Our energy dependence will also remain. … We will negotiate,” he said.
However, he stressed that such engagement should not be interpreted as an attempt to build friendly relations with Moscow.
Magyar also ruled out any role for Ukraine in shaping Hungary’s negotiating stance towards Russia. “No one wants a pro-Ukrainian government in Hungary,” he said.
Hungary’s recent parliamentary election saw voters choose 199 MPs, with more than 5.8 million people casting ballots. The vote took place amid efforts by Kyiv and the European Union to prevent the governing party from retaining power.
Following the result, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán acknowledged defeat, saying his Fidesz party would continue to fulfil its duties even from opposition.
