Nottingham Guardian - Hungary's Orban jubilant at Trump victory as he hosts EU leaders

The nationalist leader has faced a backlash for his country's norm-defying EU presidency, which saw him jetting to Moscow right after taking over the six-month stint in July. His frequent attacks on Brussels and fellow leaders have also left him isolated.

But Orban was jubilant Wednesday as Trump swept the key swing states of Pennsylvania and North Carolina, calling his election win "perhaps the greatest comeback in Western political history.

"They threatened him with jail, have taken away his assets, tried to murder him, the entire media world in the US turned against him, and yet he won," he wrote on Facebook.

Hungary will host the European Political Community (EPC) summit on Thursday, followed by an informal EU leaders' meeting on Friday.

But the US presidential election is likely to overshadow the official agenda.

Trump's victory over Democratic vice-president Kamala Harris will give Orban a "clear advantage" at the upcoming meetings, said analyst Lukas Macek of Jacques Delors Institute, speaking before Americans voted.

He said Orban had taken a gamble on wholeheartedly supporting the man who he calls a "dear friend". Had Harris won, it could have risked "weakening him, even domestically", the expert had warned.

- 'Make Europe Great Again' -

Hungary has vowed to use its EU presidency to push for its "vision of Europe" under the motto "Make Europe Great Again", an echo of Trump's rallying cry.

Orban -- who opposes military aid to Kyiv -- had predicted that Trump's return to power will bring peace to Ukraine, hoping it will force the EU to re-examine its stance on the war.

"If the Americans are switching to peace, then we must also adapt," he told state radio over the weekend.

Orban -- the only EU leader to maintain close ties with the Kremlin after Russia's invasion of Ukraine -- has been banking on Trump to emerge victorious.

There is speculation that Orban will try to organise a video call with Trump, but diplomats are sceptical.

"Orban is known for pulling off things like this, but it's still difficult to arrange at a summit," an EU diplomat told AFP.

But another diplomat stressed that Hungary "usually sticks to the programme and the agenda" when chairing meetings.

- 'False good idea' -

Orban infuriated fellow leaders in July by conducting breakaway diplomacy with Moscow to explore a path to ending the war in Ukraine.

He stoked anger again last month by travelling to Tbilisi to show support for Georgia's ruling party after a disputed parliamentary election.

While international observers, the EU and the United States criticised electoral irregularities and demanded a full investigation, Orban declared the vote was "free and democratic".

Meanwhile, he has publicly accused Brussels of wanting to impose a "puppet government" in Hungary.

The European gatherings will take place in Budapest's Puskas arena -- a football stadium named after legendary Hungarian-Spanish player Ferenc Puskas -- reflecting Orban's avid passion for the sport.

Despite the brewing tensions, the summits are unlikely to be affected by an unofficial boycott of Hungary's presidency, which has seen multiple ministers and high-level officials skipping informal meetings.

Last week, European Council president Charles Michel cautioned against boycotting the meetings, calling the notion a "false good idea".

But according to analyst Macek "patience is wearing thin" with Hungary's premier and "at some point, the EU may have to step up pressure".

He anticipates a "cold atmosphere" at the Budapest summits "but at the same time, as always in these circumstances, appearances will be kept to a minimum."

"Many participants will find ways to make Orban understand their disagreements."

N.Handrahan--NG