Illiberal loyalists: Viktor Orbán’s regional clientelistic networks in the Western Balkans

Abstract

After the decisive Hungarian parliamentary election on 12 April 2026, which ousted long-time Prime Minister Viktor Orbán from power, it might be apt to take stock of his policies toward the countries of the Western Balkans. Officially, the Hungarian government, under the leadership of Orbán, always supported the EU accession of the Western Balkan countries, but at the same time adopted anti-EU narratives. Moreover, on a bilateral level Orbán provided financial and political support to establish loyal networks and influence politics in the region. Orbán’s objective was to create a regional leadership role for himself, which seems to be the driving factor of establishing close relationships with the political leaders in the region. The research question is whether Orbán succeeded in establishing a leadership role in the Western Balkans, supported by a regional clientelist network? The article provides an overview of the background of the Hungarian foreign policy role and Orbán’s interpretation of Hungary’s place in Europe. The paper provides insights into Hungary’s motivations for cooperation with the Western Balkan states and how the anti-EU narratives and the disdain for “Brussel” in FIDESZ rhetoric were framed. Moreover, the paper examines the concepts of clientelism, corruption, and state capture, which were partly deliberately expanded into Hungary’s neighbouring states in order to increase Hungarian influence in the region. The paper assesses the bilateral relations between Hungary and the Western Balkan states from 2010 until 2026, with a special focus on relations with Serbia and North Macedonia. The analysis of the bilateral relations is based on investigative reports and newspaper articles. The relationship with Orbán can be categorised into a low-intensity of just personal sympathy, a more strategic relationship of ideological alignment and the final stage, which combines loyalism, ideological outlook and links it to the establishment of clientelist networks.