Kaczyński, leader of Poland’s main conservative opposition party Law and Justice (PiS), endorsed Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and his Fidesz party ahead of Hungary’s April 12 parliamentary election, saying the outcome would matter beyond Hungary’s domestic politics.
In an interview with pro-government weekly Mandiner, Kaczyński said he hoped a victory for Orban’s party would be followed by wins for Law and Justice in Poland, the far right in France and the survival of Giorgia Meloni in Italy, creating a bloc of right-wing governments across several European Union countries.
Kaczyński said a victory for the opposition TISZA party would threaten the rule of law in Hungary and deepen the centralization of Europe under the direction of Brussels officials and the European People’s Party.
He also said Hungary was forced to maintain relations with Russia because of its energy situation, while Poland was moving in the opposite direction.
Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski responded in a one-line social media post, writing: “whoever supports Orban today helps Putin”.
The Hungarian campaign, which began in late February, has also drawn scrutiny over media access.
Telex reported on Sunday that Peter Magyar, leader of the opposition TISZA party, has not received a single invitation from public media during the campaign to give an interview or take part in an election debate.
“Peter Magyar did not receive an invitation to appear in public media during the campaign, and the last invitation from public television M1 or public Radio Kossuth came in September 2024,” TISZA said in a response to a question from Telex.
Telex also quoted a reply from public media after asking about an invitation for the Hungarian opposition leader.
“Before we answer this question, we consider it important that [...] your editorial office clearly states what sources of foreign funding it receives and what share those sources have in its activities”, the reply said, without addressing the campaign question.
Telex said it also did not receive an answer to a question about whether there were plans to organize a pre-election debate between the candidates for prime minister.
According to a survey by the 21 Research Center conducted in late January, nearly two-thirds of Hungarians would like Orban and Magyar to face each other in a debate before the election.
Orban has categorically rejected the idea for months, Telex said, arguing that his opponent is not Magyar but “the Brussels bosses of his party: Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, and Manfred Weber, chairman of the European People’s Party.”
Magyar, by contrast, has said he is ready to take part in a debate if Orban also participates.
TISZA is ahead of Fidesz in most independent polls. In a March survey by Median, the opposition party had a 23-point lead among decided voters. Polls by institutes linked to the government, however, show Fidesz holding a lead of several percentage points.
(jh)
Source: Polish Radio