00:01If there is one thing everyone is watching in Brussels right now, it is the Hungarian elections happening this Sunday.
00:07On one side sits Viktor Orban and his ruling Fidesz party, and on the other is Peter Magyar and his
00:13challenger Tisa party.
00:14But when it comes to the biggest European issues, your reporter was curious whose side they are actually on.
00:22If they shared a flight to Belgium, their views on Brussels could not be more different.
00:27Orban fights EU influence to protect national sovereignty, whereas Magyar wants to repair the relationship,
00:33but avoids looking like he takes orders from the EU, deliberately keeping his distance from leaders like Ursula von der
00:39Leyen.
00:40Okay, but when they pick up the phone, who is on the other end?
00:44Orban maintains tight ties with the Kremlin, his foreign minister was even caught briefing Moscow around key EU meetings.
00:50And Magyar condemns this, accusing the government of acting on Vladimir Putin's behalf.
00:55However, looking next door to Ukraine, they differ in theory, but share a political calculation.
01:02Orban regularly blocks EU aid, campaigning on the fear of war.
01:06And Magyar avoids speaking about Ukraine and his party opposes Ukraine's fast-track EU membership.
01:11But you see, there is a slight difference between them.
01:14Magyar personally delivered aid to a Russian bomb children's hospital in Kyiv.
01:19Finally, looking across the Atlantic, Orban relies on his close friendship with Donald Trump, even hosting US Vice President J
01:26.D. Vance this week.
01:28Mr. President, you are on with about 5,000 Hungarian patriots and I think they love you even more than
01:34they love Viktor Orban.
01:35And Magyar rejects this kind of personality-driven diplomacy, promising to root out Russian influence and restore Hungary as a
01:43reliable NATO ally.
01:44So as you can see, all of that paints a very intriguing political picture.
01:48However, let's not forget that in these elections, Hungarian opposition leader faces a severely unequal playing field.
01:55After 16 years in power, Fidesz maintains a massive grip over the state and public money, using redrawn voting districts
02:03and compliant media to gain advantage.
02:05And with Hungarian social media flooded with deep fakes targeting Petr Magyar and Tisa party, Sunday's vote will decide if
02:14the facts or the fakes shapes Hungary's future.
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