Polish President Karol Nawrocki will visit Budapest on Monday to meet with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, offering support before the April 12th parliamentary elections.
Controversial Visit to Budapest
Polish President Karol Nawrocki is set to make a brief visit to Budapest on Monday, coinciding with the Day of Polish-Hungarian Friendship. The visit aims to demonstrate support for Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán ahead of the April 12th parliamentary elections.
Joint Celebrations in Przemyśl and Budapest
According to reports, President Nawrocki will first meet with Hungarian President Tamás Sulyok in Przemyśl to jointly celebrate the Day of Polish-Hungarian Friendship. He will then travel to Budapest for an afternoon meeting with Prime Minister Orbán.
Previous Cancellation and Shift in Approach
In December, President Nawrocki had cancelled a planned meeting with Orbán after the Hungarian Prime Minister met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. At the time, Marcin Przydacz, head of the Presidential Bureau of International Policy, emphasized Nawrocki’s commitment to finding ways to end the war in Ukraine initiated by the Russian Federation.
Political Risks and Far-Right Gathering
The timing of the visit is considered unfavorable, as Budapest will also host a gathering of the far-right “Patriots for Europe” coalition on March 23rd, with attendees including Matteo Salvini and Marine Le Pen. Journalist Szabolcs Panyi noted the potential political risks associated with the trip.
Election Outlook and International Support for Orbán
The Hungarian parliamentary elections are scheduled for April 12th. Recent polls indicate that the opposition TISZA party, led by Péter Magyar, currently leads Fidesz, Orbán’s party, by a significant margin – a 20-point advantage in a February Median poll. Orbán has already received endorsements from former U.S. President Donald Trump, and Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó announced that U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance will also visit Hungary before the elections.