Péter Magyar hopes building stronger relations with Poland will help restore ties with bloc after Orbán’s rule
The Hungarian election winner, Péter Magyar, is eyeing a special relationship with Poland’s prime minister, Donald Tusk to draw on the neighbouring country’s experience of repairing relations with the EU after years of illiberal rule.
Since 1989, the two countries have seemingly shared parallels in their paths. Now the two centre-right, pro-European leaders preside over the tricky task of restoring the rule of law and improving state institutions after years of democratic backsliding and clashes with the EU.
The leaders spoke on election night, with a jubilant Tusk calling Magyar from Korea: “I’m so happy. I think I am even happier than you, you know?”
Tusk told reporters the next morning: “First Warsaw, then Bucharest, Chișinău, and now Budapest. This part of Europe is showing that we are not condemned to corrupt and authoritarian rule.”
