With Viktor Orbán’s defeat, a liberal right victory in Hungary
In 2016, two events were seen as cataclysmic for liberal politics and the international order: Donald Trump became US president for the first time, and Britons voted to leave the European Union. The trend of democracies turning “illiberal” in their founding states had echoes across continents, perhaps most starkly in Hungary and the figure of Viktor Orbán. Earlier this week, after 16 years as prime minister, Orbán was routed in the elections. His Fidesz party is reduced to just 55 seats in the country’s 199-seat parliament, despite gerrymandering and control over state media. Orbán, a poster boy for the global far-right movement — characterised by, among other things, a lack of respect for democratic institutions and undisguised xenophobia — had the backing of MAGA leaders, including Trump and J D Vance. His defeat, however, has not come from the left-liberals. It marks the return of a liberal right.
Prime Minister-elect Péter Magyar is a former Fidesz member who campaigned on an anti-corruption platform. He also spoke of restoring the independence of institutions. Unlike Orbán, he has a pro-EU stance on crucial economic and policy issues, including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. On immigration, he appears to see the value of compromise, and does not speak in the language of prejudice.
Since the rise of populist leaders in several democracies, hours of airtime and reams of newsprint have been spent discussing how liberalism can find its way back. Magyar’s victory is now an important part of that conversation. The responsibility of protecting institutions does not lie only with the so-called “left”. A right-wing politics that does not see victory as conquest, that fights to uphold the rules and structures of democratic politics, can resonate with voters as well.
- 1The defeat of Viktor Orbán's Fidesz party in Hungary highlights the fragility of 'illiberal democracies' and the importance of institutional integrity. Orbán's rule was marked by gerrymandering and media control, undermining checks and balances. The victory of Péter Magyar, who campaigned on restoring institutional independence, demonstrates how electorates can reject authoritarian governance in favor of leaders who uphold democratic structures and processes.
- 2Péter Magyar's victory signals a significant shift in Hungary's foreign policy and its diplomatic alignment within the European Union. Unlike Viktor Orbán, who often adopted a Eurosceptic and pro-Russia stance, Magyar's pro-EU and pro-Ukraine position suggests a return to mainstream European policy. This change could strengthen EU unity on critical international issues, including sanctions against Russia and regional security cooperation.
- 3From a constitutional law perspective, the Hungarian election underscores the conflict between populist majoritarianism and the rule of law. Viktor Orbán's tenure was characterized by an erosion of constitutional norms and the independence of democratic institutions. Péter Magyar's anti-corruption platform and promise to restore institutional autonomy represent a potential reaffirmation of constitutionalism, emphasizing that electoral victory does not grant a mandate to subvert foundational legal principles.
- 4The election result in Hungary carries significant socio-economic implications, contrasting Viktor Orbán's populist nationalism with Péter Magyar's liberal-right agenda. Magyar's anti-corruption focus and pro-EU stance could improve economic stability and unlock EU funds, boosting the national economy. Socially, his departure from Orbán's overt xenophobia towards a compromise on immigration may help ease internal social divisions and improve Hungary's international standing.