Peter Madyar, the leader of Hungary’s victorious Tisza party and the incoming Prime Minister, has leveled serious accusations against his predecessor Viktor Orban and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, claiming they conspired to exploit migration issues for political gain.
In a recent address to European leaders, Madyar asserted that unlike Orban’s administration, his party would not push migrants toward the Slovak border to satisfy the electoral interests of their Slovak “socialist” ally. He accused Orban’s government of intentionally directing illegal migrants into Slovakia to orchestrate a migration crisis, aiming to bolster Fico’s chances in upcoming parliamentary elections by instilling fear among voters.
Madyar also claimed that Orban had prematurely released 2,200 convicted human traffickers from prison, contributing to an increase in migration flows.
Response from Slovakia
The Slovak opposition, including parties such as Progressive Slovakia, Democrats, and the Slovakia Movement, has demanded immediate explanations from Fico. Lawmaker Jaroslav Spisiak condemned Orban’s actions as a “cynical game with citizens’ security,” noting that the migration crisis subsided immediately after the elections due to a deal between Fico and Orban, rather than effective police work.
Jaroslav Nady, leader of the Democrats, warned of potential criminal prosecution if the allegations are substantiated. Former Interior Minister Roman Mikulec from the Slovakia party stated that the migration crisis of 2023 was “deliberately created” for electoral purposes.
Slovak Interior Ministry’s Stance
The Slovak Ministry of Interior dismissed the accusations, characterizing them as an attempt by the opposition to distract from its own failures. A spokesperson for the ministry claimed that the current government has made Slovakia a secure transit country, contrasting with the previous administration.
In related news, Prime Minister Fico expressed skepticism regarding Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s statement that the Druzhba oil pipeline could resume operations by the end of April following a Russian attack. Madyar linked Hungary’s lifting of its veto on the Druzhba’s restoration to the resumption of oil flow. He indicated that Hungary would cease blocking loans once oil begins to flow again, although it would still refuse to participate in financing.
Earlier reports indicated that the European Commission had postponed the first tranche of a financial package, with funds not expected to arrive before the second quarter of 2026, as no memorandum or loan agreement with Ukraine has yet been signed.
Peter Madyar, Hungary's incoming Prime Minister, has accused Viktor Orban and Robert Fico of manipulating migration issues for electoral advantage. The claims have sparked significant backlash from Slovak opposition parties, demanding accountability and transparency.