Polish President’s Budapest visit to back Orbán’s re-election bid sparks backlash

Polish President Karol Nawrocki arrived in Budapest today, where he plans to meet Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and express support for the latter’s re-election campaign.

This development, first reported by Hungarian investigative journalist Szabolcs Panyi based on his sources and later confirmed through unofficial channels to Polish public radio, has sparked significant controversy in Poland and beyond. Nawrocki is expected to arrive in the Hungarian capital late in the afternoon or evening, marking an attempt to mend and strengthen ties between the two leaders after a previous planned visit in December was canceled due to Orbán’s meeting with Vladimir Putin.

The trip coincides with Polish-Hungarian Friendship Day celebrations. Earlier on 23 March, Nawrocki will meet Hungarian President Tamás Sulyok in Przemyśl, Poland, as part of the official commemorations of the longstanding alliance between the two nations. His subsequent discussions with Orbán in Budapest are arranged separately and are not tied to the “Patriots for Europe” rally, a gathering of far-right and right-wing leaders that same day, which includes figures such as Matteo Salvini and Marine Le Pen.

Nawrocki’s planned endorsement comes at a pivotal moment for Orbán, whose Fidesz party faces a competitive challenge in Hungary’s 12 April parliamentary elections. The Polish president’s move is seen by supporters as a gesture of solidarity among nationalist and conservative leaders, but it has drawn sharp rebukes from Poland’s government.

Domestic backlash in Poland

Prime Minister Donald Tusk condemned the prospective meeting on social media, describing it as a “fatal mistake” that would weaken the European Union and bolster Vladimir Putin’s position.

Tusk portrayed Nawrocki’s participation, amid a gathering of pro-Russian and Eurosceptic politicians, as confirmation of a risky strategy detrimental to European unity. Similarly, Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski, who also serves as deputy prime minister, issued a pointed critique via X. He highlighted that Orbán continues to block the 20th EU sanctions package against Russia while delaying the return of approximately 2 billion zlotys (470 million euros) owed to Poland for military equipment transferred to Ukraine. Sikorski accused Orbán of basing his campaign on fearmongering about an alleged Ukrainian invasion, allegedly aided by a special GRU team, and placed Nawrocki in uncomfortable company alongside “Putin cheerleaders” like Salvini and Le Pen. He urged the president to examine how Orbán’s nationalism and alleged corruption have contributed to Hungary becoming one of the poorer nations in the EU, asking pointedly whether that is the future Nawrocki envisions for Poland.

The timing of the visit adds further complexity. It follows reports of Russian intelligence interference aimed at bolstering Orbán’s position. A Washington Post article by Catherine Belton, citing European intelligence sources, claimed that Russia’s SVR had proposed staging a fake assassination attempt on Orbán as a “game-changer” to shift the election narrative from socioeconomic issues to emotional patriotism and rally his base amid perceived declining popularity. The report positioned Orbán as a vital Kremlin foothold in NATO and the EU. However, skepticism has emerged regarding the story’s credibility. Critics, including some in Hungarian and conservative outlets like Brussels Signal, question the poll data cited and suggest possible Polish involvement in leaking or fabricating elements to discredit Orbán before the vote. Doubts focus on the technical feasibility for non-major powers and connections such as Belton’s past association with Anne Applebaum, a vocal Orbán critic married to Sikorski. Hungarian authorities have denied the assassination plot claims outright.

Despite the political storm, Nawrocki’s office has framed the Budapest leg as bilateral talks following the friendship day events, with some Polish conservative voices defending it as legitimate diplomacy between allied nations. The president’s recent interactions, including emphasizing Russian unreliability in discussions with Donald Trump after meeting Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Warsaw, add layers to the narrative of his foreign policy stance.

This episode underscores the deep divisions within Polish politics, where the nationalist president and pro-EU government clash over approaches to Hungary, Russia, and European integration. The visit will likely intensify debates about alliances, influence, and the future direction of Central European relations amid broader geopolitical tensions.

Sourses: Polskie Radio, Hungary Today, European Interest

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Caption: President of the Republic of Poland Karol Nawrocki (L) and President of Hungary Tamas Sulyok (2-L) during the welcoming ceremony in the square in front of the City Hall in Przemysl, southeastern Poland, 23 March 2026. The Polish and Hungarian presidents attend events marking the Polish-Hungarian Friendship Day. EPA/Darek Delmanowicz