The absence of details regarding the agenda has sparked rumors about the future dynamics of Budapest-Rome relations following 16 years under Viktor Orbán’s administration.
Hungary’s Prime Minister-elect Péter Magyar is set to hold discussions with Italian PM Giorgia Meloni on Thursday, Rome announced in a statement on Wednesday, though it did not specify the subjects of their talks.
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This lack of clarity has provoked speculation concerning the possible topics of Magyar’s and Meloni’s meeting, as well as the potential shifts in Budapest-Rome relations after Viktor Orbán’s 16-year tenure as prime minister.
Orbán and Meloni, both representatives of the political right, were collaborators, though Italy’s ties with Hungary lacked the closeness seen between Hungary and Slovakia under Robert Fico or Poland under Mateusz Morawiecki.
Despite Meloni and Orbán sharing a firm stance against immigration and both occupying central roles in the illiberal right-wing faction, Italy’s PM adopts a noticeably more pragmatic and less confrontational policy toward the European Union than Orbán.
Furthermore, Meloni demonstrates stronger support for Ukraine amid its ongoing resistance to Russia’s large-scale invasion compared to Orbán, who is generally viewed as Europe’s most Moscow-friendly leader.
Additionally, the two parties affiliate with distinct factions within the European Parliament.
Orbán’s Fidesz is part of the Patriots for Europe grouping, whereas Meloni’s Brothers of Italy dominate the European Conservatives and Reformists faction.
In 2024, Fidesz sought to join Meloni’s faction but faced opposition from several leaders, including Meloni, leading Hungary to drop the effort.
The incoming Hungarian ruling party, Tisza, belongs to yet another bloc: the European People’s Party.
Still, it appears plausible that Meloni might develop cooperative ties with Magyar.
In recent days, several of Orbán’s supporters have shown a willingness to collaborate with the new government, with US President Donald Trump commenting that Magyar is a capable individual and will perform well.
Magyar: ‘In Hungary, we had to confront a different sort of mafia’
On Tuesday, Magyar traveled to Italy to attend the Riviera Film Festival. There, in Sestri Levante, the documentary Spring Wind – The Awakening, portraying the rise of the future prime minister, was screened.
Magyar acknowledged that the documentary played a key role in his election success, being viewed online by millions and allowing people to «get to know me» despite state propaganda efforts.
Directed by Tamas Yvan Topolanszky, Spring Wind – The Awakening follows the two-year campaign culminating in Magyar’s decisive victory in the April parliamentary elections, which ended Viktor Orbán’s 16-year rule.
Before the film’s release, voters «didn’t have the opportunity to understand our objectives… my own children, exposed to propaganda, never had contact with the truth,» Magyar told reporters at the Riviera International Film Festival in Sestri Levante, Italy.
During filming, Magyar admitted uncertainty about whether the documentary would influence voters prior to the election.
However, after its initial limited screening in Hungary, Magyar noticed the strong emotional reactions and believed the film might have a significant impact.
He later urged the creators to broaden the film’s reach, leading to a brief online release on YouTube during Easter weekend, with 3.4 million views according to the producers.
«During this Easter weekend, when Hungarian families gather—across generations—I hoped, and perhaps rightly so, that it would be the perfect time for families to watch the film together and start conversations,» he explained.
Magyar emphasized that the film’s focus is not on the conservative, pro-EU Tisza party but rather on «the two years of our nation, reflecting both its past and potential future.»
Magyar is scheduled to be officially sworn in as prime minister in Budapest on Saturday.
Additional sources • AFP