Viktor Orbán’s Hungarian experiment runs out of steam

Viktor Orbán’s Hungarian Experiment Faces Defeat

After 16 years of governing, Viktor Orbán’s political model has been challenged. While he referred to it as “an experiment,” the term didn’t fully capture its essence. “Illiberal democracy” carried a negative connotation, so his allies in the U.S. preferred “national conservatism,” a label that seemed more palatable but wasn’t entirely accurate. Orbán, unlike traditional conservatives, embraced radicalism, constantly reshaping his ideology to fit his vision.

A Contradictory Approach

Orbán often defied mainstream institutions, targeting “Brussels bureaucrats” as his primary adversaries. Yet, whenever these critics pushed back, he leveraged the situation to bolster his own position. Despite branding himself as an “anti globalist,” he invited foreign investors, including German car manufacturers and Chinese EV battery producers, to Hungary. His rhetoric emphasized national sovereignty, but this didn’t stop him from cooperating with external powers, even when they clashed with Ukraine’s independence.

“Tonight we celebrate,” he told the huge crowds, dancing on the shores of the Danube. “But tomorrow, we start work.”

Policy Paradoxes

His stance on immigration was clear: he opposed mass influxes. However, he quietly encouraged migration from Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Ukraine, and Turkey to support industrial growth. Orbán’s focus on family-friendly policies, including financial incentives for having more children, failed to reverse Hungary’s fertility rate. By 2025, the rate had dropped to 1.31, matching the level left by the previous Socialists in 2010. This stagnation reflected public fatigue with his relentless agenda.

Orbán’s leadership style was majoritarian, where the victor dictated all. Following his 2010 landslide, he introduced a new constitution to align the country with his party’s goals. With a two-thirds parliamentary majority, he implemented sweeping reforms, altering judicial systems, electoral rules, and economic frameworks. But the Hungarian people’s decisive rejection of his model on Sunday signaled a shift toward stability and compromise.

The End of an Era

Péter Magyar’s victory marked the end of Orbán’s experiment. His campaign resonated by carrying the Hungarian flag to every rally and promoting a more inclusive national message. Voters, weary of constant conflict and economic inequality, sought a return to normalcy. They wanted a country that could speak with a voice but also remain balanced. Magyar promised this balance, signaling a new chapter in Hungary’s political landscape.