Hungary election winner Péter Magyar signals readiness for talks with Putin
Tisza party leader in Hungary Péter Magyar (photo: Getty Images)
The head of Hungary's new ruling Tisza party and future prime minister Péter Magyar said he is ready to sit down for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to the Hungarian outlet Nepszava.
Response to Orbán's remarks
Journalists asked Magyar about the statements of then–Prime Minister Orbán: he said he would watch how a "pro-Ukrainian government" conducts negotiations with Russia.
"Let's stop joking. I do not think that a prime minister who is stepping down takes himself seriously when he says such things on air. No one wants a pro-Ukrainian government in Hungary. They want a pro-Hungarian one, and we hope it will be in place after April 12," Magyar said.
The Tisza leader did not rule out direct talks with the president of Russia
"Of course, if that is the case, we will have to sit down at the negotiating table with the president of Russia," he said.
At the same time, Magyar explained his logic:
- Hungary and Russia are neighbors, so their geographical position will not change.
- Dependence on Russian energy will remain for some time.
- Diversification must be strengthened, but this will not happen overnight.
"If needed, we will negotiate, but we won't become friends," the future prime minister stressed.
According to Magyar, the new government will focus on the real problems of Hungarians, not on foreign policy games.
Magyar's Tisza party won a convincing victory in the parliamentary elections on April 12, 138 out of 199 seats in parliament. Turnout reached nearly 80% — a record for Hungary since the collapse of the socialist bloc.
Orbán acknowledged his defeat. As reported, Orbán's support was not helped even by open backing from the White House and the Kremlin.
Péter Magyar is a lawyer and a former ally of Orbán who finally broke with the Fidesz party in 2024 due to a scandal over presidential pardons.
As reported, he positions himself as a pro-European politician while taking a restrained stance on Ukraine. He recognizes Russia as an aggressor but opposes arms supplies and Ukraine's accelerated accession to the European Union and NATO.
In his first address after the victory, Magyar demanded the resignation of President Tamás Sulyok and all of Orbán's appointees in key positions.
He also promised to immediately travel to Brussels to unblock European Union funding that had been frozen.
