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After 16 years in power, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s rule is coming to an end following his party’s defeat in a parliamentary election on Sunday. Peter Magyar, the leader of the center-right opposition Respect and Freedom Party, will succeed him. This party was founded in 2020 and has been led by Magyar since 2024. The key focus of the party is to tackle government corruption and improve living standards and public services. Internationally, it will take a pro-European and unifying stance.
The Respect and Freedom Party is set to secure more than two-thirds of the seats in parliament (136 of 199). This election was eagerly awaited, as the result will have implications for Europe and the world.
Many analysts coined the outcome as the end of an “illiberal democracy.” European Commission President Ursula von Der Leyen posted on X: “Europe’s heart is beating stronger in Hungary tonight.” She added: “Hungary has chosen Europe. Europe has always chosen Hungary. A country reclaims its European path. The Union grows stronger.”
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said: “Let’s join forces for a strong, secure and, above all, united Europe.” Emmanuel Macron also sent his congratulations, saying that “France welcomes the victory of democratic participation, the Hungarian people’s commitment to European Union values, and Hungary’s European engagement.” Similarly, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer wrote that these elections were a “historic moment, not only for Hungary, but for European democracy.”
What does it mean in practical terms? For Hungary, it means a potential return to a more democratic method of governance and operation of the state. The key point is that Hungary is now poised to return to a course of closer relations with the EU, as Magyar promised the crowd in Budapest.
The key point is that Hungary is now poised to return to a course of closer relations with the EU, as Magyar promised
Dr. Diana Galeeva
Magyar’s victory will be considered a relief for Brussels given the EU’s difficult history of relations with Orban due to his stances on many issues. Under Orban’s leadership, Hungary used its veto to tackle the European response to many crucial strategic issues, including the Ukraine war. Orban has repeatedly blocked an aid package to Ukraine and resisted EU sanctions on Russia since 2022. In February, Hungary blocked a planned €90 billion ($106 billion) EU loan to Ukraine until the flow of Russian oil through the damaged Druzhba pipeline resumed.
The elections in Hungary might have an impact on the continued future support of Kyiv from the EU side, but there are many obstacles. Currently, Europeans are facing an energy crisis that has direct links to their own security and necessities. At the same time, Hungary itself struggles with its economy and, if Magyar repairs relations with the EU, the bloc might consider increasing its funding for the country. Hungary has faced many economic challenges, such as stagnation and soaring living costs. In other words, the economic factor is a challenge for both Hungary and the EU. This adds uncertainty to the future of the Ukraine conflict.
Paradoxically, these elections will have a less clear impact on relations with the rest of the world, as the country will now follow the course of the EU.
Modern politics is strange, with some analyses billing these elections as a “historical milestone.” This is indeed a milestone for bilateral relations between Hungary and the EU, but what it will mean for the rest of the world, which has its own uncertainties to deal with, is unclear at this stage.
What it will mean for the rest of the world, which has its own uncertainties to deal with, is unclear at this stage
Dr. Diana Galeeva
Nonetheless, Magyar’s victory means that the EU as a bloc will become more united despite all the challenges of the past. From an international relations standpoint, it means that the formation of alliances has proven to be an effective model. This example can be useful for others to consider, including the Gulf Cooperation Council states, as together they can tackle their own challenges and uncertainties.
This also means the competition of the great powers will continue in the short run, meaning the world will face struggles over and over again. If this game of “big politics” continues, the world will not be safe for all. The wise alternative would be for leaders who represent different views and stances to accept the reality that all are different. The world of politics would win if the diverse array of stances around the globe were welcomed everywhere.
Consequently, Hungary’s elections could allow for the opening of a new era of relations between countries, in which the EU can focus on its own problems and uncertainties with neutrality, providing an example for others through daily efforts to bring peace and stability.
This also links to the ongoing discourse about the battle of democracy versus autocracy. The acceptance of a diversity of views across the globe is the only winning strategy. In the end, world leaders who have a responsibility to secure their own interests are also responsible for peace in the world.
• Dr. Diana Galeeva is an academic visitor to the Center of Islamic Studies at the University of Cambridge.