Orbán's main election rival vows to rethink Hungary's policy on Kremlin — AP
Hungarian opposition leader Péter Magyar (photo: Getty Images)
Hungary's future government, if there is a change in power, will adopt a pragmatic approach to relations with Russia based on mutual non-interference in internal affairs, Hungarian opposition leader Péter Magyar states.
Pragmatism replaces loyalty
The opposition leader emphasized that his approach to Russia would differ significantly from that of current Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
Péter Magyar aims to return Hungary to a democratic European path while maintaining a businesslike neutrality with Moscow.
"Pragmatism means that we have no say in Russia's internal affairs, and they don't have any say in our affairs. We are both sovereign countries, and we respect each other, but we don't have to like each other," Magyar explained.
Energy independence
The politician also criticized the current government for excessive energy dependence on Russia. He plans to diversify oil and gas supplies, using EU resources to build new infrastructure.
At the same time, he acknowledged that a quick exit from Russian resources is not possible.
"Still, this does not mean that we must stop using Russian oil tomorrow. It means that the European Union's resources must be used well," Magyar stressed.
Hungary's pre-election situation
Parliamentary elections in Hungary are scheduled for April 12, 2026. Péter Magyar, whose party Tisza leads by 10 percent over Viktor Orbán's Fidesz in polls, has become the main challenger to the current prime minister.
However, analysts note that the real contest will unfold in individual constituencies, where the balance of power may differ.
Earlier, Politico reported that Orbán is preparing a plan in case of defeat and may take radical measures to complicate matters for a new government.
Experts have also assessed how a change in government could affect support for Kyiv. Despite his opposition stance, Magyar's position on Ukraine may, in many respects, align with Orbán's current policy.
