Magyar beat Orbán partly on a promise to reset Hungary’s relations with the EU, but he envisions doing so within an emboldened bloc of Central European nations led by like-minded right-wing leaders whom he believes share a cultural outlook, economic interests and conservative views on everything from migration to energy policy. With the important exception of Poland, these countries — positioned between Western Europe and Russia — have also traditionally shown a greater willingness to maintain business links with Moscow.
The incoming Hungarian leader has already publicly outlined how he might achieve his vision for a Central European bloc. At a press conference earlier this month he proposed merging the Visegrád Group — an informal alliance of Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia — with the Slavkov format, a cooperation framework involving Austria, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
“I believe this is in the interest of every country, including Austria and Hungary,” Magyar said. “So I hope that we will be able to make progress here.”
As a clear signal of that strategy, Magyar said his first trips as Hungary’s new leader in early May will be to Warsaw and Vienna.
While he views Austria as a more natural ally, Magyar stands to learn a great deal from Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and his efforts to restore liberal democracy after years of populist rule, including how to unlock EU funds withheld over rule-of-law concerns. One of Magyar’s top priorities is to secure the release of €18 billion in frozen EU funds; he’s also pushing for access to €16 billion in European defense loans and for an end to a €1 million-a-day fine on Hungary over its refusal to comply with EU migration law.
“The visit to Warsaw is about sharing experiences regarding the transition back to a liberal democracy,” said Emil Brix, a former Austrian diplomat and historian who has studied the end of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. “The visit to Vienna has more to do with European policy and with the fact that it is necessary to develop our own proposals from within this region.”
