Hungary’s PM-elect vows return to ICC, but stresses ‘special relationship’ with Israel

Hungarian prime minister-elect Peter Magyar pledged on Monday to return Budapest to being a member of the International Criminal Court, after outgoing leader Viktor Orban quit the body last year in support of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Holding his first news conference following his election win a day earlier, Magyar said he would move to return Hungary to being an ICC member, but stopped short of expressing any opinion about the court’s arrest warrant against Netanyahu on allegations of war crimes in Gaza.

Orban’s withdrawal from the ICC “is a process we cannot stop, however we are going to relaunch Hungary’s accession to the International Criminal Court,” Magyar said in response to a question from a reporter on Monday.

“I think it’s in the interest of the international community and Hungary for us to be there,” the incoming leader added.

Orban pulled Hungary out of the court last year after it issued an arrest warrant against Netanyahu for alleged war crimes, arguing that it had become a “political court.” He announced the move as he welcomed the Israeli prime minister for a visit to Budapest, defying Hungary’s legal obligation to arrest him as a party to the ICC.

Magyar’s decision could mean Netanyahu would not be able to visit Budapest again due to fears of arrest. However, a number of other countries have indicated they would not arrest Netanyahu were he to visit, despite maintaining their memberships in the ICC.

Magyar, who won a decisive victory after campaigning against Orban’s record, stressed on Monday the importance of maintaining close ties with Israel.

“Israel and Hungary — obviously there’s a special relationship, a lot of Hungarians live in Israel, a lot of Israeli citizens come here to Hungary,” he said.

“We have a very strong Jewish community living in Hungary, one of the largest, thankfully, in security, safety and peace and zero tolerance in Hungary to all forms of antisemitism,” Magyar added. “This is going to continue.”

The prime minister-elect said that “Israel is also an important economic partner. We strive for pragmatic relations.”

He suggested, however, that Hungary may not continue its default position under Orban of regularly vetoing EU moves against Israel: “We need to examine every decision, but I don’t want to run too far into the future. We will see what decisions the EU will make and to see what the truth is,” he said, noting that Hungary is likely to follow the lead of Germany, its closest ally and also a strong supporter of Israel.

Responding to Magyar’s win almost 24 hours later, Netanyahu finally congratulated him on Monday in a post that began with a tribute to Orban.

Netanyahu called Orban “a true friend of Israel, who stood firmly by Israel’s side in the face of unjust international vilification and who supported Israel’s soldiers in our just war of self-defense against brutal terrorists. The people of Israel will forever remember this.”

He then continued: “I congratulate Peter Magyar on his election victory. I wish him success in leading Hungary forward, while strengthening the strong ties between our nations,” adding: “I look forward to continuing our cooperation for the benefit of both our peoples.”

At his first press conference on Monday, Magyar pledged to usher in a “new era” in Hungary after defeating the longtime nationalist leader.

Orban, a self-described “thorn” in the European Union’s side who was backed by US President Donald Trump and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, was ousted in Sunday’s ballot after 16 years in power.

Hungarians fed up with corruption handed Magyar, a conservative former government insider, a decisive victory.

Magyar said he would do “everything in our power to ensure that this truly marks the beginning of a new era.”

He urged President Tamas Sulyok, an Orban ally, to convene parliament “as soon as possible” in order to allow him to take office quickly.

“Our country has no time to waste. Hungary is in trouble in every respect. It has been plundered, looted, betrayed, indebted and ruined,” he told reporters.

Magyar’s Tisza party won a two-thirds majority in the parliamentary elections, which drew record turnout. Tens of thousands of jubilant supporters poured into the streets to celebrate in the capital, Budapest.

‘Defeat for right-wing populism,’ win for ‘values of the EU’

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called it a “heavy defeat” for “right-wing populism” and French President Emmanuel Macron hailed it as a victory for the “values of the European Union.”

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow hoped for “pragmatic” relations with Hungary’s new government, following the ousting of Orban, the EU’s most Russia-friendly leader.

China, with which Orban had also fostered ties, congratulated Magyar.

Magyar thanked both Moscow and Beijing for “being open to pragmatic cooperation, just as Hungary is.”

Almost-complete official results showed Tisza securing 138 seats in the 199-seat parliament on 53% of the vote. Orban’s Fidesz party retained 55 seats on 38% of the vote. Turnout was a record 79.6 percent.

Addressing the crowd, Magyar said voters had “liberated” the country of 9.5 million people and “said ‘yes’ to Europe.”

Magyar, 45, was a solid supporter of Orban for years before emerging as his most serious challenger. He stepped into frontline politics just two years ago, promising to fight corruption and offering better public services.

He garnered support against a backdrop of economic stagnation and despite an electoral system skewed in favor of Fidesz.

Orban has repeatedly blocked EU moves to help Ukraine fight Russia’s invasion.

He made Ukraine a central campaign issue, portraying Kyiv as “hostile” to Hungary.

Like Orban, Magyar opposes sending EU military aid to Ukraine or offering Ukraine a fast-track route to join the 27-nation bloc.

He reiterated that stance on Monday, saying: “We are talking about a country at war. It is completely out of the question for the European Union to admit a country at war.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has nonetheless pledged to work with him “for the benefit of both nations, as well as peace, security and stability in Europe.”