“We are pro-EU but we are not blind to the shortcomings of the EU,” said Magyar in an interview with POLITICO. When asked about the bloc’s policies on the Green Deal, migration, and EU integration, the Hungarian politician deflected the question.
Magyar, the ex-husband of the former justice minister and previously known as a quiet top-level civil servant of Orbán’s government, won over voters by calling out the Hungarian government’s corruption and rule-of-law concerns. He promised to have the EU green-light potentially billions in European funds that have been frozen by Brussels over Hungary’s illiberal policies around academic freedoms, judicial independence and anti-LGBTQ+ laws.
But that’s not to say he agrees with all of the EU’s policies.
“We certainly don’t believe in a European superstate … the EU should help member states achieve their goals in all of these areas, often through joint action, sometimes through enhanced cooperation, and, frankly, sometimes by taking a step backward and recognizing that member states are not united in their views,” Magyar said.
A key disagreement between Magyar and the EPP is that he doesn’t support sending weapons to Ukraine, he said back in June.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and his pro-Europe archrival have at least one thing in common: neither are completely sold on Brussels. | Marcos Brindicci/Getty Images
“Russia is the aggressor and Ukraine has the right to defend itself, and we should support Ukraine,” he told POLITICO. “We differ on the exact nature of our support.”