Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has welcomed the landslide victory of Hungary’s opposition Tisza party, expressing confidence that the political shift in Budapest will terminate the informal asylum granted to several former Polish ministers. The election of Péter Magyar as Hungary’s next leader marks a seismic shift in Central European geopolitics and signals a swift end to the protective shield previously extended by Viktor Orbán.
The diplomatic thaw began almost immediately following the April 12 election results, which saw the Tisza party secure a decisive super-majority. Mr Tusk, who has long sought the extradition of former Law and Justice (PiS) officials, hailed the outcome as a triumph for the rule of law. Writing on social media, the Polish Prime Minister stated, "Back together! Glorious victory, dear friends!" He later told reporters in Warsaw that he is "glad this part of Europe is showing we are not doomed to corrupt and authoritarian governments."
The focus of the new administration in Budapest is expected to turn quickly toward legal cooperation with Warsaw. Péter Magyar has previously indicated that his government would not stand in the way of European arrest warrants. He specifically noted that Hungary would no longer serve as a "legal bunker" for figures such as former Polish Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro and former deputy minister Marcin Romanowski, both of whom face serious charges in Poland ranging from the misuse of public funds to leading an organised criminal group.
Under the outgoing Orbán administration, Hungary had consistently blocked extradition requests, framing the Polish investigations as "political persecution." However, Mr Magyar has confirmed that his first foreign visit as Prime Minister-elect will be to Warsaw. This symbolic gesture is intended to repair the strained relationship between the two nations and formalise a new era of judicial transparency.
Legal experts suggest the revocation of asylum status for the former ministers could occur within weeks of the new Hungarian government taking office. The collapse of the Orbán-PiS alliance leaves several high-profile Polish figures without their primary international protector, clearing the path for their return to Warsaw to face trial.