Hungarian elections
News
The Dependence Paradox: Why Did Low-Educated Voters in Hungary Disproportionately Vote for Fidesz?
By Vera Messing and Judit Durst Electoral data in Hungary reveal that the most vulnerable populations – with some exceptions – continued to support Fidesz. This piece addresses the most predominant explanations of this phenomenon: media isolation and clientelism. We also address what it will take for political change to reach marginalized communities. Walking through the streets of a village in Northern Hungary on a beautiful spring day on April 12, 2026, there was no hint of the election result that would soon sweep away Fidesz’s 16 years of autocratic rule. Signs of election fraud were sometimes clearly visible: a local “construction contractor” sitting in a car in front of the polling station, checking a list – likely the list of voters – to see who had voted and who still needed to be mobilized; people driving to the sports field after casting their ballots, where money changed hands. Still, the election day proceeded in a calm manner. Most of the villagers were convinced that [...]
16.06.2026
Interviews
Constitutional Enthusiasm in Hungary – In Conversation with Gábor Halmai
Sixteen years of rule by Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party have come to an end in Hungary. During this time, the country received prominence in debates about the rule of law like practically no other. Since winning a two-thirds majority in 2010, Fidesz had significantly altered the Hungarian constitutional system to ensure the persistence of its own power. According to many analysts, this set a blueprint that other right-wing populists around the world have followed. The victory of Peter Magyar’s Tisza-party has brought hope that Hungary will democratize and rebuild the rule of law – something many analysts had almost given up on. Finding the path to achieve this is likely to become challenging. Research has shown that successful returns to democratic governance after an authoritarian period are rare, and pro-democratic politicians who take over after an authoritarian incumbent often turn to authoritarian governance themselves. Yet, euphoria is currently running high in Hungary. Perhaps [...]
11.06.2026
News
Beating Orbán from the Inside: Elite Defection and the Limits of Illiberal Democracy
Viktor Orbán’s 16-year rule ended on April 12, 2026, but not at the hands of the liberal opposition or the EU. The mechanism of Orbán’s defeat reveals a structural vulnerability in every authoritarian project: the insider who turns.
10.06.2026
Can they ever win? The past and future prospects for an opposition victory in Hungary’s competitive authoritarian regime
By analyzing the recent parliamentary elections, the authors attempt to answer a key question for Hungary and Europe: is Viktor Orban and his ruling party defeatable?
30.04.2022
