A sweet revenge. I see it this way.
Orban was so pro-Putin that I was thinking about my vomiting instincts. I don’t know if he was Kremlin’s agent or not, but he actually behaved like that.
You may like or dislike Ukraine, and Zelensky is not an angel. However, Orban should have left the EU and NATO, and behave like he did, blocking their initiatives.
Under his rule, the country has been sliding away from democracy for years. Independent media has been squeezed, opposition voices had a harder and harder time being heard, and more power kept getting concentrated around Orban and his circle.
While much of Europe has pushed back hard against Russia, Orban has often softened criticism of the Kremlin and dragged his feet on tougher EU action. Why? I can’t see it and bad ideas come to my mind. Also, think of the way his Foreign Minister (can’t remember his name) was communicating to Sergey Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister, based on the wire published. Was that minister in Russia’s pocket? Who knows…
Now, the tide is turning with the new guy who will soon come to the office. I am not a Hungarian, but, it seems to me, they’ve taken a right decision for the good of their country. It is another deep blow to Vladimir Putin, who keeps losing allies around the world.
What just happened in Hungary?
It seems that Hungary has been presented with an opportunity to recalibrate its political direction, but I sense an awareness that the process will be only gradual and will definitely be complex.
Britain’s response to the current political situation, following Viktor Orbán’s defeat, has been notably restrained but quietly positive. There has been no overt celebration from government figures, yet the underlying tone from Westminster suggests a sense of cautious approval. For many in the UK, the result represents a reaffirmation of democratic process in a country that, in recent years, had become associated with a “more illiberal style of governance”. That’s me being polite.
British leaders saw Orbán’s tenure often placing Hungary at odds with broader European positions, particularly on issues such as judicial independence, media freedom, and relations with Russia. His departure is therefore seen as an opportunity—though I emphasise again not a guarantee—for Hungary to move closer to the mainstream of European political values and cooperation.
The British media has echoed this measured optimism. Coverage has generally called the election result as significant, even historic, marking the end of a long and distinctive political era. However, commentators have been careful not to overstate the implications. There is widespread recognition that political systems do not transform overnight, and that many of the structures and sentiments that sustained Orbán’s rule will continue to shape Hungary’s trajectory.
Strategically, the development carries particular weight in the context of the war in Ukraine. The UK has been one of Kyiv’s strongest supporters, and Orbán’s more conciliatory stance toward Moscow often caused friction within Western alliances. His defeat is therefore interpreted in Britain as potentially strengthening European unity on foreign policy, especially if Hungary adopts a more aligned position with NATO partners.
In conclusion, Britain views the situation as a constructive shift rather than a decisive turning point. The prevailing attitude is one of cautious optimism—welcoming change, while remaining realistic about the challenges that lie ahead. That’s basically Britain sitting on the fence yet again……….
What’s just happened in Hungary?
Justice… and it was long overdue. Across our planet exists a network of angry, rich old men who fancy themselves so magnificent that they are above the very laws they themselves want to impose on humanity. But Viktor is a special case; he has made himself the poster child of the conservative movement, not only in Hungary but also in the US. He has used Hungarian taxpayer Euros to finance election… mmm… free speech in America. He has hosted and paid for American conservative groups to meet in Hungary.
It’s a small step to imagine the relationship between Trump & Orbán being more than Hungary giving free trips to US conservatives. Did any money actually exchange hands? I don’t know but it’s sure to be investigated on both sides of the Atlantic. Orbán’s son-in-law has sought and received refuge in the US while legal investigations start in Hungary.
The bigger question is: has the Populist movement run out of steam? Brazil and South Korea have both sent former leaders to jail for acting like Trump. Bolsonaro in particular seems to have followed the Trump script carefully. Italy’s Meloni and Argentina’s Milei have hit some turbulence despite stellar starts.
I’m not aware of Meloni or Milei being accused of self-dealing so please don’t infer anything I didn’t say. However, as a general rule corruption seems rampant in these various illiberal movements, including Hungary. We are not talking about regular conservatives. Elon Musk’s favorite, the AfD (Germany) cannot be confused with the UK’s Conservative Party. The Brothers of Italy is a descendent from Mussolini’s Republican Fascist Party. These are not the conservatives from my childhood.
Another feature of the populist movement seems to be economic failures. China, Russia, and the United States offer a similar pattern in this respect. Once in power, populist/authoritarians seem so focused on their self, they allow their respective countries to fail. Like in Hungary, the countries named above will derail free and open elections if at all possible. All three could fall off an economic cliff without course correction. Leaders in all three will attempt to blame someone… anyone else, for their failures. Is Hungary the future or the dying gasp of the past? We should know by later next year.