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During the race for the White House in 2016, Viktor Orbán stood out as the sole head of an EU nation to endorse the Republican candidate. This alignment came as no shock, considering the Hungarian leader's adoption of contentious ideas including the "great replacement" theory and his restrictions against media freedom. Commentators observe that Mr Orbán essentially laid the groundwork for the Maga movement, with ex-Trump adviser Steve Bannon lauding Orbán as the "Trump before Trump".

Political Favors In advance of the Hungarian Vote

Recently, amid pivotal polls in Hungary merely approaching in six months, the American leader returned some political favors. While Orbán pursues a fifth term in office presiding over a country he labels an non-liberal system, his ruling party lags in surveys. A visit to the US capital resulted in not just Trump campaign souvenirs; it brought highly beneficial pre-election gifts.

Waivers and Economic Protections

Despite earlier lecturing EU countries on the need to halt all resource supplies from Russia, and warning of penalties against states still to buy Russian oil, Mr Trump consented to provide a particular exclusion for Hungary – the biggest user in the EU of Russian petroleum. As Orbán stated, the US government also promised to provide a “financial shield” to Hungary's capital if it encounters any upcoming challenges, particularly since EU institutions is still blocking billions in EU funding to the nation on grounds of failures to uphold the rule of law.

The specifics of this arrangement are unclear. But the US president has shown his willingness to support like-minded partners as the America provided a $20bn emergency credit line to the Argentine leader, the South American leader. Even though Orbán failed to obtain a presidential tour to the Hungarian capital, the discussions still turned out to be a successful endeavor.

EU Concerns and Geopolitical Stakes

Among European leaders, Trump's actions likely highlighted the strategic importance of the upcoming vote, before which the opposition candidate, Péter Magyar, enjoys a clear edge in the polls. Heads of state know not to look for principled consistency from the Trump administration, and are familiar with the American leader's efforts to belittle the bloc. Yet Mr Orbán’s exemption – obtained in exchange for an deal to acquire US gas and nuclear energy – openly contradicts European goals to eliminate Russian oil and gas by the target date.

• From 2022 onward, the largest EU buyers of Russian crude, these two countries, have provided substantial funds to the Kremlin’s war effort.
• At the same time, Hungary has repeatedly used the veto power to hinder advancement in Ukraine’s EU accession talks.
• As Europe strives to develop a cohesive plan for backing Ukraine, and bolstering its position in any later diplomatic discussions, Orbán's pro-Russia stance at the international forums is still a key barrier.

Opposition Stance

Péter Magyar has avoided promising a significant change on the Ukraine conflict, and focused his campaigning on domestic issues, while highlighting the need for the country to begin operating as a productive EU partner. After enduring so many years of trolling, EU officials can only hold out hope. Mr Orbán’s indifference to basic EU values, like the support for minority protections and the freedom of non-governmental organizations, has persisted as a source of shame for the bloc. His persistent opposition regarding the Ukraine issue could harm its long-term safety.