Viktor Orbán’s Hungarian experiment runs out of steam
Viktor Orbán’s Hungarian experiment runs out of steam
Over the past 16 years, Viktor Orbán’s tenure in power was framed as an “experiment”—a term he himself struggled to define. While “illiberal democracy” felt too critical, his Western allies preferred “national conservatism,” which better aligned with his image but didn’t fully capture his approach. Unlike traditional conservatives, Orbán was a relentless reformer. He consistently pushed boundaries, challenging mainstream norms and Brussels institutions.
His defiance of globalisation came with a paradox. He welcomed German automakers and EV battery producers from China and South Korea. Yet, when it came to Ukraine’s sovereignty, he hesitated to stand firm against Russian aggression. His anti-immigration rhetoric coexisted with quiet efforts to attract workers from Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Ukraine, and Turkey to fuel industrial growth. Even his policies to boost fertility—pouring funds into encouraging families to have more children—failed to reverse the trend, as the rate dropped back to 1.31 by 2025, the same figure inherited from the Socialists in 2010.
Orbán’s swift concession on Sunday night suggested a keen awareness of public perception. He had long embraced a “majoritarian” model, believing in the winner-takes-all principle. A year after securing a two-thirds parliamentary majority in 2010, he overhauled the constitution, restructuring courts, electoral systems, and the economy to align with his party’s vision. But the people of Hungary, weary of endless conflict, finally signaled their exhaustion.
The resounding defeat marked a shift in sentiment. Péter Magyar’s victory stemmed from his flag-waving rallies, his message of inclusivity, and the public’s growing weariness with political strife. Voters sought stability and a return to a more balanced society, a promise Magyar positioned himself to fulfill.
“Tonight we celebrate,” he declared to the crowds by the Danube, “but tomorrow, we start work.”
