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Video recap: State of Romania
11 December 2024
On 26 October 2024, Visegrad Insight hosted ambassadors, embassy representatives, and experts for a discussion on the current situation in Hungary, featuring special guest journalist Szabolcs Panyi
The event was moderated by Bartosz Wieliński, a Visegrad Insight Marcin Król Fellow. We had the great pleasure of hearing insights from Szabolcs Panyi, a European Press Prize finalist in 2018 and 2021. Based in Budapest, Panyi is the lead investigative editor at VSquare, specialising in Central European investigations. He also collaborates with Direkt36, focusing on national security, foreign policy and Russian and Chinese influence.
Our discussion centred on the current situation in Hungary, particularly in light of Donald Trump’s victory in the United States. As Panyi explained, Orbán’s connections and ties are much closer and stronger with the current Vice President, J.D. Vance, than with Trump himself.
In Hungary, Orbán’s primary concern is the state of the economy. The country is heavily reliant on Germany’s automotive industry, which is currently experiencing declining demand for electric vehicles. Simultaneously, German companies appear to be scaling back their operations.
The economy is expected to play a pivotal role in the upcoming 2026 elections. While there is still time before the vote, a lack of robust economic support could lead to a significant decline in voter support for Orbán.
Read: Trump’s Second Term a Crossroads for Central Europe – COMMENTARY
Could we see a political upheaval and a potential victory for opposition leader Péter Magyar? It is still too early to tell. Magyar has a keen sense of the public mood and excels at captivating audiences with his rhetoric. He is also highly adept at leveraging social media to build political support.
See the photoshoot below:
