Hungary’s Election Result

Liberals and democrats worldwide are still celebrating the electoral defeat of Hungary’s Victor Orban. Hopefully the end of the regime behind the oxymoronic phrase “illiberal democracy” marks a wider rejection of the free world’s recent dangerous flirtations with authoritarianism.  

However, a couple of points need to be made despite all the jubilation. Firstly, that the winning candidate, Peter Magyr’s, challenges are in many ways just beginning. He, and his diverse coalition of supporters, are inheriting a system deliberately optimised for authoritarian abuse of power. With weak democratic guardrails, partisan courts and a housebroken media. 16 years if Fidesz rule have left much repair work to be done. 

Hungary’s new government will face multiple tests of character. Not just it what they set out to do, but how they accomplish those goals. Temptations will abound to “do the right thing; the easy way”. The new government should be supported, especially by their European neighbours. And that support should include both honesty and truthfulness. Rather than blind enthusiasm for anyone other than the previous incumbent. For those of us in Europe the ideal end goal should be a strongly democratic Hungary taking its place as a respected nation amongst its peers. 

And secondly, Victor Orban should be both recognised and lauded. Whatever his faults as an illiberal democrat, when put to the test, he remained foremost a democrat. In recognising the will of the Hungarian people and promptly conceding the election, as its results were “painful but clear” in his own words. That decision must not be diminished. 

To argue the election result was simply so overwhelming, that it was irresistible, wilfully ignores the simple fact. That trying to cling to power was on option for Orban to attempt. And arguably in his own immediate personal interests, certainly in those of his allies and sponsors. To try and fight reality and claim the result was illegitimate on some pretext; would have potentially massive upsides for those unexposed to any of the downsides. Conceding to electoral reality in a timely manner has saved Hungary from a great deal of fuss and bother, to indulge in understatement.

We know, only too well, that the world is richly stocked with thuggish fools in positions power. Many of whom feel perfectly entitled to use blatant lies, threats of retaliation, or actual force on any who criticism them. Let alone those in a position to actually oppose their power. 

That the bar of conceding reality is low does not detract from Orban deserving praise for meeting it. There are enough others who’ve fail to meet even that low bar; both in recent years and years to come. And that sad fact is what demands that actually doing so deserves being treated to our respect. 

Wishing Peter Magyr and his allies’ wisdom and good fortune in the challenges ahead. And hoping illiberal democracy takes its rightful place in the long history of failed experiments, we salute the departure of Victor Orban from power on a note of integrity. And hope his future public actions, starting with the transition period, maintain that quality of legacy.