Hungary's prime minister says sanctions issued by the United States last week against a powerful Hungarian official have “strengthened” that official’s standing within the populist government.

Orban defended his key aide in his first remarks on the matter since the U.S. imposed sanctions on Rogan for alleged corruption earlier this month. Orban's cabinet office has dismissed the U.S. move as the "last,

Sanctions imposed by the outgoing U.S. administration against Antal Rogan, Prime Minister Viktor Orban's cabinet chief and overseer of the secret service, have only strengthened Rogan's position, Orban said during a state radio interview on Jan.