US EditionHungary's Orbán Has Long Annoyed the European Union. Now some Hope He Faces Defeat
Péter Magyar’s TISZA party is gaining ground as 4,000 local groups campaign against Orbán’s long rule and his clashes with EU institutions.
- Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is trailing in polls ahead of the April 12 election, signaling a potential end to his 16-year reign. Opposition leader Peter Magyar's TISZA party has gained momentum, challenging Orbán's dominance.
- Magyar's rise followed a 2024 child abuse pardon scandal that weakened Orbán's grip on power. His TISZA party built an on-the-ground network of around 4,000 "islands" to organize voters in rural areas.
- In towns like Jaszfenyszaru, population 6,000, beautician Menczel and other first-time campaigners use word-of-mouth outreach to challenge Fidesz. These grassroots efforts replace billboard dominance, allowing supporters to engage pragmatically rather than ideologically.
- Orbán's frequent vetoes have strained EU relations, with the European Commission blocking Hungary's €16 billion defense fund bid. Last month, tensions spiked when the prime minister reneged on a €90 billion loan deal for Ukraine.
- European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos is pushing for stronger safeguards ensuring new EU members adhere to democratic rules. These measures, aimed at preventing "Trojan horses," reflect broader calls for treaty reforms to curb unilateral vetoes.
46 Articles
46 Articles
How Hungary's Orbán built his empire, and why it's cracking
For sixteen years, Viktor Orbán has been the standard-bearer of European nationalist politics: the man who rewrote Hungary's constitution, turned the country into what critics call an electoral autocracy, and became the only European leader that MAGA voters know by name. But with Hungary's parliamentary elections approaching on April 12th, Orbán's grip on power is slipping. Opposition candidate Péter Magyar is polling ahead by double digits, and…
Author's texts rarely begin with self-examination, and for good reason. Almost a year ago, I warned that the elections in Hungary in April 2026 could effectively become the first rigged electoral process in the European Union, with far-reaching consequences for democratic integrity and decision-making in the Union.
Associated Press News
Hungary's Orbán has long annoyed the European Union. Now some hope he faces defeat
Hungary's upcoming election has significant implications for the European Union. Many hope for the defeat of nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who is seen as a threat to the EU's future.
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