Germany eyes fresh start with Hungary as top diplomat visits Budapest

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul arrived in Budapest for an official visit on Monday in the hope that "Hungary rediscovers its great European heart" after a change of government earlier this year. 

Conservative Prime Minister Péter Magyar unseated right-wing populist Viktor Orbán in elections in April, after Orbán had been in power for 16 years. 

The Orbán government had pursued policies that were more friendly towards Moscow, while obstructing EU sanctions and vilifying Ukraine. 

Wadephul praised Hungary's new government for initiating key reforms in a short space of time. The return to the rule of law and the implementation of European requirements were good news, Wadephul said.

In Budapest, Wadephul plans to meet President András Baka, Foreign Minister Anita Orbán and Economy Minister István Kapitány. 

He is the first German foreign minister to visit Hungary in almost seven years, and is accompanied by a business delegation.

Wadephul highlighted Hungary's expulsion of 10 Russian diplomats last week as a clear signal to Moscow. 

He said Budapest's solidarity after an attempted attack using an explosive drone at Leipzig/Halle airport in early August, which Berlin has attributed to Russia, as well as EU sanctions also approved by Hungary, sent Moscow a clear message that "we are defending the peace order in Europe against Russia's aggression."

Russia denies having anything to do with the drone at Leipzig airport.