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After 16 years of Viktor Orbán as Prime Minister of Hungary, he conceded defeat in yesterday’s election. The voters’ verdict was crushing. A stinging defeat for Viktor Orbán and his anti-EU and pro-Russian policies. The people chose a different direction. The direction Péter Magyar wants to take Hungary is a more cooperative direction towards the EU and a stronger distance from the Russian approach to Orban. Fighting corruption is also one of the issues Péter Magyar promises to prioritize. Returning Hungary’s courts to a more independent direction than during Orban’s attempts to control the courts and media is also an important issue for Péter Magyar.

Péter Magyar united the opposition

Péter Magyar and his party Tiza won the election with over 2/3 of the National Assembly. The result is remarkable and makes it easier to change the constitution. During Orban’s 16-year term, a number of laws were introduced that weakened democracy, and hopefully these can now be changed.

A united opposition made the people believe that change could be possible. From a divided opposition, there was now a clear counter-candidate for the entire opposition. It was expected that Orban would win in the countryside and that Tiza would win in the large cities with a young population. It is worth noting that Tiza also won most of the villages. This made the election result so extreme in favor of Péter Magyar.

Péter Magyar and relations with the EU and Russia

To put it mildly, Victor Orban’s relationship with the EU was very poor. Victor Orban, on the other hand, had a good relationship with Putin. With the current election results, Hungary will probably take a big step towards a more cooperative approach to the EU and a greater distance from Russia and Putin.

Péter Magyar has said, among other things, that Russian propaganda in Hungary must be combated. The people of Hungary have spoken clearly. They want an end to Hungary’s confrontational stance towards the EU. For Péter Magyar, it is important to gain access to the funds the EU has frozen as a result of Victor Orban and his policy of gaining political control over the judicial system. Reforms are needed soon so that the funds can be released, something that is needed in the poor Hungarian economy.

Russia went to great lengths to support Victor Orban in the election. The revelation that Hungary had given Russia access to confidential documents in the EU was a clear indication of Orban’s support for Putin. This pro-Russian line was also rejected by the people in the election.

Hardly a more Ukraine-friendly Hungary

Péter Magyar and his party are unlikely to be a major contributor to Ukraine. The door will be virtually closed to refugees from all parts of the world, including Ukraine. There is no reason to believe that Hungary will change its attitude to EU support for Ukraine in the future. Like his predecessor, Péter Magyar is not particularly in favor of the EU allocating money to Ukraine. However, he is probably a little more cooperative and does not want to put his foot down in the same way as Orban.

The tense situation between Hungary and Ukraine could possibly become more relaxed. The tension is there because the pipeline that supplies Hungary with Russian oil has been destroyed inside Ukraine. Orban said that the pipeline was destroyed by Ukraine, which Ukraine denies. Péter Magyar is likely to be pressured by the EU to find a new supplier of oil and gas. Hungary’s dependence on Russia in this area is contrary to the EU’s line.

Like Victor Orban, Péter Magyar is opposed to Ukraine becoming an EU member, including in the future. Relations between Hungary and Ukraine are as unfriendly as they have ever been. Ukraine will probably try to get a better relationship with the new rulers than it had with Victor Orban.

A victory for democracy

It is gratifying to see that the result of the election was also respected by the losing party. Not everyone thought that would happen. The fact that the election was conducted in a good way is also gratifying. Democracy is the big winner after the election.

Sources:

EPC: After Orbán: why Péter Magyar would not be an easy partner for the EU

Wikipedia: Péter Magyar

BBC: Orbán era swept away by Péter Magyar’s Hungary election landslide