Why Hungary’s chaotic election matters to Trump
The Global Story
BBC
3.8 • 666 Ratings
🗓️ 6 April 2026
⏱️ 27 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
After 16 years as prime minister of Hungary, Viktor Orbán – often credited with shaping the populist playbook – could be voted out in next week’s parliamentary elections. It could be one of the most consequential contests of 2026.
Among claims of Russian interference, staged assassination attempts and threats to release a sex tape, the campaign has taken a series of dramatic and unexpected turns.
Ahead of an expected visit by US Vice President JD Vance, we ask the BBC’s Europe editor, Katya Adler, how such a small country became a pivotal geopolitical battleground - and whether a defeat for Orbán could signal a shift for the populist right worldwide.
Producers: Samantha Chantarasak and Valerio Esposito
Executive producer: James Shield
Mix: Renee Park
Senior news editor: China Collins
Photo: US President Trump meets with Hungary's Prime Minister Orbán at the White House. Credit: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | BBC Sounds, Music, Radio, podcasts. |
| 0:05.6 | You might not have been thinking much about Hungary's upcoming parliamentary elections, |
| 0:11.6 | but you're probably about to hear a whole lot about them. |
| 0:15.7 | After 16 years as Prime Minister, Victor Orban, the man who wrote the European Populous Playbook, |
| 0:22.6 | is facing what could be his most dangerous challenge yet. The Americans, the EU and the Russians, |
| 0:30.5 | they're all looking on with huge interest. Hello. Hello, Sergei. This is Peter speaking. |
| 0:36.0 | Yes, Peter. Are you in St. Petersburg? |
| 0:38.3 | Where are you? |
| 0:39.3 | I landed in Budapest already. |
| 0:41.3 | In this leaked phone call released by a group of investigative reporters in Europe on Tuesday, |
| 0:47.3 | Orban's foreign minister, Peter Siato, is heard chatting with his Russian counterpart, |
| 0:53.3 | Sergei Lavrov. |
| 0:55.5 | Nice way to put it. |
| 0:57.5 | And fair. |
| 0:58.1 | And fair. |
| 0:58.7 | And fair. |
| 0:59.5 | And fair. It too sound close. |
| 1:01.1 | There's a suggestion that the Hungarian is prepared to help Russia out inside the EU. |
| 1:07.4 | And we highly appreciate your support and your fight for equality in our fear. |
| 1:14.6 | Seyato says there's nothing unusual in any of this and that his phone's been illegally wiretapped. |
| 1:21.4 | But the possible coziness with Russia will heighten already sky-high sensitivities in this campaign, one that's already |
| 1:30.2 | seen allegations of election interference, blackmail, and even one report that the Russians |
... |
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