On the banks of the Danube, joy and relief broke out on Sunday April 12 among the supporters of Peter Magyar, big winner of the Hungarian legislative elections. A few kilometers away, Viktor Orban acknowledges his defeat, with misty eyes, in front of the Fidesz headquarters. It is difficult to let go of the reins of this country that he has shaped so much in sixteen years of power. A few weeks ago, the Prime Minister still believed in his chances. After all, the pollsters were wrong in 2022. In his ranks, we were told, confident, that the irreducible Hungarian would win a fifth mandate. In the worst case, without a “supermajority”, but his victory was beyond doubt.
Stupor as the ballots are counted. Horror when it becomes clear that Tisza’s boss is going to seize two thirds of the seats in Parliament. Taking note of these results “painful but unambiguous”Viktor Orban quickly calls his rival on the phone to congratulate him. As for the sixties, he prefers to retire at Hatvanpuszta, the sumptuous palace that has become the symbol of his clan’s fortune, rather than behind bars, something his competitor has threatened him with on several occasions.
Witch hunt
The future head of government, who should take office at the beginning of May, has made the fight against corruption his hobby horse, promising to dismantle “brick by brick” there “Orban mafia” and to initiate proceedings against all those who may have contributed to it. If he keeps his promises, many heads could roll in the coming months. Starting with that of the president, Tamas Sulyok, whose resignation he demands for “preserve what still remains of the rule of law and democracy”. In case of refusal, Peter Magyar will use the mandate given by the voters to modify the Hungarian Basic Law in order to dismiss him, “him like all the puppets appointed by the Orban system to key positions, whether the prosecutor general or the president of the Constitutional Court”.
“Serious budget cuts” to come
Peter Magyar also plans to clean up the media. “The lie factory will end after the formation of the government: we will suspend the information service” until freedom of the press is restored, declares the winner on the set of the public television channel M1. Enough to save precious funds in order to implement its ambitious program. According to political scientist Balint Madlovics, “serious budget cuts” are to be expected, particularly within the administration. Hungary’s new strongman, however, will not skimp on expenses to go to Brussels, where people are jubilant at having finally gotten rid of “Mr. Veto”.
Relations between Viktor Orban and the European Union have never really been good. At the end of March, tensions reached their peak when the Prime Minister blocked the 90 billion euro loan to kyiv, although approved in December. “It’s an old story. They want your money. Hungarian money. Take it to Brussels, then send it from there to Ukraine”he argued, accusing Peter Magyar and his friends “eurocrats” to want to continue the war.
Zero immigration maintained
Unsurprisingly, the fall of the illiberal leader has delighted more than one in the gray corridors of the European institutions, starting with the President of the Commission. “Tonight, the heart of Europe beats stronger in Hungary”welcomed Ursula von der Leyen when the results were announced, attracting the wrath of Marine Le Pen. “The satisfaction expressed by the European Commission which has continually exceeded its prerogatives and competences to the detriment of the power of the people should worry Hungarians about the persistence of this freedom so dearly defended for years”scathed the leader of the deputies of the National Rally.
Ursula von der Leyen should not rejoice too quickly… If Peter Magyar, who sits in the European Parliament within the EPP group, can prove to be more cooperative than his predecessor on several issues in order to recover, as he has committed to doing, the 18 billion in funds frozen for non-respect of European values, he has already warned that he would oppose the sending of arms to Ukraine, as well as the rapid integration of the country to the EU. When it comes to immigration, its line will be just as strict as that of Fidesz. “We will not accept any pact or distribution mechanism”said Peter Magyar, since described by Donald Trump as a “good man”.
Clever, he is. “He understood that he would obtain better results by showing a white hand to the EU where Viktor Orban systematically stood firm”underlines political scientist Balint Madlovics. In order to spare his country the daily fine of one million euros imposed by the European Court of Justice for violation of asylum rules, the new Prime Minister assured that Hungary would make efforts to comply with the legislation. “If Slovakia and Poland could solve this problem, so can we”he believes, full of hope. For now, the dashing forty-year-old is almost unanimous, from Budapest to Washington via Brussels. It remains to be seen how long this enchanted parenthesis will last. To govern is not to please.
