WASHINGTON — A recent election in Hungary has drawn considerable attention in the United States due to the defeat of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a figure who has garnered support from President Donald Trump and many conservatives in America. Orbán’s anti-immigrant policies and governance style have made him a symbol for the global right, with parallels noted between his tactics and those employed by Trump over his tenure in office.
Trump’s backing for Orbán included sending Vice President JD Vance to Budapest just before the elections, a move that coincided with the Iran conflict. Orbán’s loss serves as a stark reminder of the challenges that both authoritarian and democratic leaders face in maintaining power amid widespread discontent among voters worldwide.
Steven Levitsky, a political science professor at Harvard and coauthor of “How Democracies Die,” emphasized that opposition parties can succeed even in unfavorable conditions, pointing out the simultaneous struggles faced by democracies and autocracies around the globe.
Orbán’s defeat has immediate ramifications, particularly as he was one of the few European leaders closely aligned with Russian President Vladimir Putin and had previously obstructed European Union support for Ukraine amidst its conflict with Russia. This outcome was welcomed by members from both major U.S. political parties, some of whom expressed their discontent with the U.S. administration’s overt endorsement of Orbán.
Republican Rep. Don Bacon from Nebraska criticized foreign interference in democratic elections, while Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi celebrated the Hungarian vote as a triumph for democracy and the rule of law. Matt Schlapp, head of the American Conservative Union, noted that the desire for change often drives electoral outcomes, highlighting that voters in Hungary are grappling with inflation and economic pressures exacerbated by the Iran conflict.
Diana Sosoaca, a far-right member of the European Parliament from Romania, condemned Vance’s visit, labeling it a misstep given the discontent surrounding the Iran war across Europe. She questioned the appropriateness of inviting a U.S. representative whose actions have contributed to global instability.
Orbán was first elected as Prime Minister in 1998, later adopting more right-wing policies after losing his position in 2002. Upon his return to power in 2010, he and his Fidesz party enacted measures to consolidate their authority, creating what they referred to as “illiberal democracy.” This included constructing barriers to prevent migrants from entering Hungary and implementing restrictions on LGBTQ+ rights, press freedoms, and judicial independence.
During the global recession in 2010, Orbán’s party gained enough parliamentary seats to amend the constitution, allowing for significant restructuring of the judiciary and media landscape to favor their political agenda. The European Union has since classified Hungary as an “electoral autocracy.”
Supporters of Orbán have dismissed the notion that he undermines democracy, and he quickly accepted his electoral defeat. Concerns have arisen regarding Trump’s potential use of executive power to influence upcoming elections, similar to his previous attempts to contest the 2020 presidential election results.
Ian Bassin from Protect Democracy remarked that even leaders who manipulate systems can be defeated when the electorate unites against them. Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna of California took the opportunity to direct a message to Vance, questioning whether he would concede in a future loss, akin to Orbán.
Levitsky cautioned against overconfidence in Orbán’s defeat, noting that Trump has utilized oppressive tactics that surpass those of Orbán’s government. Meanwhile, Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland drew connections between the political strategies of Trump and Orbán, suggesting that the rejection of their approaches is evident in both Hungary and the United States.
