Viktor Orban will not attend the upcoming European summit in Cyprus

Outgoing Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has announced he will not attend the informal European Council summit in Cyprus next week. According to Foreign Minister Janos Boka, Orban intends to focus on the government transition following his party's recent electoral defeat. This transition marks the end of Orban’s 16-year tenure, with his official departure from power scheduled for May. His final term has been characterized by significant friction with European Union leadership, particularly regarding the approval of a 90 billion euro loan for Ukraine. Sources indicate conflicting reports on his attendance, with some suggesting he was invited as an outgoing leader while others confirm his absence. The Cypriot presidency of the EU Council aims to finalize the Ukrainian loan package and a 20th round of sanctions against Russia as soon as possible. Following the electoral victory of Peter Magyar, analysts anticipate a shift in Hungarian diplomatic policy. Despite past tensions, including public altercations with officials like Jean-Claude Juncker, the upcoming informal summit is not expected to involve binding decisions.