How Putin’s Propagandists Are Spinning Orbán’s Defeat

Russian state propagandists reacted to Viktor Orbán's defeat in Hungary's election, attempting to spin the loss as a positive for Russia. Vladimir Solovyov, a top Kremlin propagandist, claimed that Orbán's defeat was a step towards a more militarized Europe, but not a defeat for Russia, as it had not invested in European politics. Solovyov and other propagandists instead focused on the perceived defeat for Donald Trump, who had supported Orbán's campaign. They also predicted that Hungary's new leader, Péter Magyar, would continue to have a pragmatic relationship with Russia. Magyar has stated that he will unblock funds for Ukraine, but Russian propagandists claimed that he may also lift sanctions on Russia. The reaction from Russian propagandists was characterized by a mix of schadenfreude and pragmatism, as they sought to downplay the significance of Orbán's defeat for Russia.