On 7-9 June 2024 elections to the European Parliament were held in Hungary and in the another associate States of the European Union. The fact that in Hungary the coalition organization of conservative Fidesz and the Chadetic KDNP organization won was predictable. However, no 1 expected specified a decline in support compared to erstwhile elections.
Fidesz and KDNP have ruled Hungary since 2010 and have since been a majority in the national parliament. In the last parliamentary election, the coalition occupied 135 out of 199 seats to fill, giving Orbán the majority needed to push for constitutional reforms [1]. In this year's EP elections, the coalition besides theoretically won due to the fact that it won 44.8% of the vote, which gives it 11 out of 21 seats. In practice, however, it is simply a terrible disaster of Orbán. Second place, with nearly 30% of votes and 7 seats, was the fresh TISZA organization on the Hungarian political stage, headed by Péter Magyar. The DK-MSZP-Dialog coalition, on the another hand, won 8% of the votes and 2 seats, and the last mandate was awarded to the Nationalist Movement of Our Homeland [2].
Péter Magyar, the current rival of Fideshu, is simply a erstwhile organization authoritative and erstwhile husband of Hungarian Justice Minister Judit Varga. He is now openly criticizing the government and fighting the power system. He decided to do so after Hungarian president Katalin Novák resigned after pardoning a man convicted for helping cover up a case of sexual abuse in a child's home [3].
The leader of the TISZA organization is the hope for Hungary and the announcement of a fresh era in Hungarian politics. He is besides aware of this and Orban, who in a tv interview admitted that ,the elections were hard due to the fact that they had to overcome both the old and the fresh opposition.” According to the Prime Minister, peacemakers have won the election, and it is clear from the results that Hungarian public opinion, possibly even a large part of the left, supported his government's efforts to get Hungary out of the war [4]. According to Magyar, the election results are ,,Waterloo Orban's power and the beginning of its end" [5].
It is astonishing to see the result of the TISZA party, as Magyar had respective months not only to conduct the campaign, but besides to prepare it. During this time, he organized "March of Peace" – 1 of the largest demonstrations against the camp of power in years. It featured all generations – from young students and students, families with children, to pensioners. Tens of thousands of participants expressed their dissatisfaction with the current government policy by marching together across the streets of Budapest. Magyar, who at this very demonstration presented the intention to make a organization that would run for the EP, words more than he kept [6].
Prior to the elections, the first political debate on public tv in 18 years was held. The last specified event took place in 2006. The debate on the MTVA channel was attended by candidates for the EP from 11 different parties, including Peter Magyar. due to his threats, it was decided to hold a debate. He warned that he would organise protests on tv if it did not take place. Despite popular belief among viewers that the debate was unfair and did not take place in the form that was expected, it is the hope of a fresh reality in which public tv can hear criticism directed towards the government [7].
Conclusion
The biggest losers of these elections are the group existing on the Hungarian political scene long longer than TISZA. The current opposition parties DK-MSZP-Dialog and the Nationalist Movement Our Homeland combined only 3 mandates, which will surely consequence in internal-party shuffling and a fresh approach to politics towards rivals [8].
The election results show the increasing discontent of Hungarians with Orbán's policy. Fidesz lost 2 seats in the EP and 8 percent points in support of the organization present on the political phase for respective months.
Forecast
The results of the EP elections in Hungary are starting a fresh start in the country's policy. Magyar will surely not slow down in his efforts to dominate Fidesz. He will have the chance to do so in the upcoming parliamentary elections to be held in the autumn of 2026. Then we'll truly see how Hungarians feel and if they're ready to change. If the TISZA in the elections to the national parliament gets as advanced as in these, then Orbán may lose the constitutional majority and will gotta start dealing with the opposition.
Bibliography:
[1] Walker N., Hungary: 2022 general election, https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-9519/, [accessed: 12.06.2024].
[2] https://www.results.elections.europa.eu/en/national results/Hungarian/2024-2029/ [accessed 12.06.2024].
[3] Hungary’s Viktor Orbán stumbles in EU election, Politico, https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-european-election-results-2024-hungary-victor-orban-fidesz-party-peter-magyar-tisha-party/ [accessed 12.06.2024].
[4] Orbán Viktor: A béke- és háborúpárti küzdelemben 1-0-ra mi vezetünk EurópábanHirado, https://hirado.hu/belfold/cikk/2024/06/11/orban-viktor-a-beke-es-haborubari-kuzdelemben-1-0-ra-mi-vezetunk-europaban [accessed 12.06.2024].
[5] Hungary’s Peter Magyar, Orban-disciple-turned-fierce-rival, France 24, https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20240612-hungary-peter-magyar-orban-disciple-turned-serious-rival [accessed: 17.06.2024].
[6] The fresh challenger for Viktor Orbán leads a immense demonstration in Budapest, The Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/apr/06/protest-march-budapest-hungary-peter-magyar-victor-orban-government[accessed 14.06.2024].
[7] Hungary: First electoral debate in 20 years, Euractiv, https://www.euractiv.pl/section/eurowybory/news/Hungarian-first-election-debate-from-20-years/ [accessed: 14.06.2024]
[8] Elections in Hungary: Fideshu triumph overshadowed by the success of the fresh opposition, Center for east Studies, https://www.osw.waw.pl/publications/analyses/2024-06-13/elections-on-wegweg-life-fideszu-attached-success-new [accessed 14.06.2024].
Photo: Canva
