Viktor Orbán's time as Prime Minister of Hungary has come to an end. As the Guardian have reported:
With 98.74% of the vote counted, Magyar's Tisza party was projected to have won 138 of the 199 seats in the country's parliament, giving them a super-majority capable of amending the constitution and key laws, suggesting they would be able to reverse some of the changes made by Orbán and Fidesz, and potentially unlock EU funds.
Fidesz won 55 seats, while the extreme-right Mi Hazánk party won six.
This moment is significant. Orbán described himself as "illiberal". Others, more accurately, described his administration as authoritarian, totalitarian and neo-fascist. He enjoyed considerable support from both Putin and Trump, with JD Vance flying to Hungary last week in a vain attempt to support his re-election. Both Trump and Vance heaped praise on Orbán of late. The significance of this reversal is hard to overstate.
Firstly, as is developing as a pattern, the support of a neo fascist superpower, whether it be Russia or the USA, is now proving insufficient to guarantee political victory.
Secondly, the people of Hungary have demonstrated their ability to choose and to reject Orbán's corruption and failure.
Thirdly, so far, Orbán has indicated his willingness to accept the result, having conceded defeat.
Fourthly, Hungary's veto on many actions within the European Union will now disappear, removing much of the neo fascist threat within it now that both Poland and Hungary have been pulled back from their fascist direction of travel.
Fifthly, the confidence and swagger of many on the far right will be damaged by this result. The likes of the MAGA movement and Farage have built their confidence in what they have believed to be their inevitable progression toward perpetual power on the basis of the model Orbán created. Now that he has failed, it is no longer possible for them to believe in that inevitability, and that makes it easier for voters to see through them.
Sixthly, so great is the majority in the Hungarian parliament for the new government that they can overthrow some of the constitutional reforms that Orbán put in place, offering the prospect of the return of the rule of law, free media and the end of political suppression.
Seventhly, there's also a chance that the obvious corruption of the Orbán years might be addressed. So blatant has been the devotion of funds to his own family that it must be hoped that Orbán himself will be prosecuted. That would be an exceedingly useful precedent, not least in the message it might send to the White House.
There is not much good news in the world at this moment. I can only live in hope that the new government in Hungary is indeed better than the one that it has replaced. But for now, the reversal of neofascism in that country is welcome.
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It’s wonderful news and Orban seems to have accepted the result with good grace. Will this new government be like the Greek Syreza one? That promised so much but ended up getting tied in knots and failing? If I was Orban I would be leaving for the safety of Russia ASAP before the level of corruption is exposed and challenged.
In terms of the EU in will stop the veto to change and also show that such regimes can be democratically overturned. It will also help Ukraine both in terms of aid and removing opposition to them joining the EU. But Putin will not be happy and nor will Trump and the MAGA alliance.
Thoroughly agreed.
This ‘epiphany’ in Hungary however has taken some 16 years – worth noting in itself, which shows the grip that fascism can have a country in, but also such is the venality of it, people may just about be able to work out that it does not actually address the concerns that led it into being in power in the first place.
[…] So, let me be clear about what is really going on here. Streeting is going full-blown Orban in his approach, adopting the style of authoritarian contempt towards democracy and the will of the people of the country previously associated with the now departed neofascist Hungarian Prime Minister. […]
As a hungarian ,who left the country partially because of the Orban regime decisions, it is good to see the hungarian people come to their senses.
Altough it is good to see change there is a lot of damage done by the country and the government. I do wish for the new government will keep their promises and step on the path of healing since their decisions regurarly affect across borders.
I suspect that Trump and Vance’s support for Orban helped to swing the people’s vote in favour of common sense, just like Streeting’s “refusal of Scottish Independence” statement will swing support for the SNP and Greens in next month’s Holyrood elections
I agree, Ken. Except amongst the fools, these people have been rumbled now. 70% or more are rejecting them.
Orban was a also favourite of Netanyahu who thanked him for his unwavering support for Israel
Agreed
I am delighted, but reserved. The new leader had ties to the old. Will the new government be like our Labour Party. Do some good. Go far enough to release EU funding but not go far enough to make real change for thr people. I live in hope but until I see action, I am not convinced.
I am nit convinced either. He might be better than Orban, but not enough.
Today’s News Agents podcast also warned that Magyar is not as progressive as his supporters seem to assume he is. It remains to be seen if the majority of the new Tisza parliamentary party are further to the left than he may turn out to be. The podcast also suggested that Magyar won by campaigning on the cost of living, and by not being Viktor Orban!