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Hungary: A Thorny Transition After The Election
American Thinker ^ | 17 Apr, 2026 | Istvan Toth

Posted on 04/17/2026 5:17:04 AM PDT by MtnClimber

While the victors celebrate, the European Union moves to tighten its grip on Péter Magyar’s incoming government. Without Washington’s support, Budapest will have a hard time avoiding being overwhelmed by Brussels’s “friendly embrace.”

The Red Pill of Reality

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and his Fidesz party were unexpectedly defeated in the April 12 parliamentary elections. Supporters of Péter Magyar’s Tisza party are celebrating their victory, having received nods of approval and handshakes from Brussels and many other European capitals. Eurocrats are rushing to declare the end of the “Orbán era.”

However, Tisza did not win because its platform was more compelling. Hungarian society simply craved change. Voters, particularly younger generations, wanted new people in politics. This demand for a shake-up was irrational. For most citizens, the mere prospect of change became paramount. Whether those changes would be for better or worse wasn’t even the question.

The Blue Pill of Ignorance and Illusion: Deconstructing the Defeat

A record voter turnout of around 80 percent and striking enthusiasm among young people were defining features of the election. Tisza secured 138 seats in the 199-seat parliament, leaving Fidesz with just 55. This created a sense of Orbán’s complete defeat. However, a closer look reveals that things are not as clear-cut as they seem.

3.1 million voters cast ballots for Tisza, compared to 2.25 million for Fidesz. As you can see, the real difference is far smaller than the seat distribution suggests. In terms of party lists, the rivals are roughly equal: Tisza received 45 seats, while Fidesz received 42. The election outcome hinged on regional voting. In single-member districts, Tisza won 93 seats, leaving Fidesz with only 13.

The outgoing government misread sentiment outside of Budapest. Fidesz should have offered voters new candidates—individuals unconnected to the power structure and unburdened by the past.

(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...


TOPICS: Society
KEYWORDS: brussels; orbanloveshezbollah
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1 posted on 04/17/2026 5:17:04 AM PDT by MtnClimber
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To: MtnClimber

Brace for the muslim hoards. The EU runs the country now.
take a trip to Londonstan to see what the future looks like.


2 posted on 04/17/2026 5:17:18 AM PDT by MtnClimber (For photos of scenery, wildlife and climbing, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: MtnClimber

The Hungarians should boycott non-Hungarian products and services until the EU releases funds being withheld from Hungary.


3 posted on 04/17/2026 5:21:23 AM PDT by Brian Griffin
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To: MtnClimber

I would say that they get what they voted for. I am not sure that is the case anymore in most places. The might get whatever happens after the votes are rigged.


4 posted on 04/17/2026 5:22:38 AM PDT by dforest
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To: MtnClimber

An interesting take on Orban’s loss came from a Russian commentator. The commentator said that one reason Orban lost was because he’d been in power 16 years and the public was just tired of him. Putin has been in power in one form or another for 26 years.


5 posted on 04/17/2026 5:25:20 AM PDT by Gen.Blather (I had a tagline and I dropped it. The cat back-pawed it under the Barcalounger. )
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To: MtnClimber

Actually Mayger is more conservative than Orban. The propaganda machine was turned up to eleven against Mayger by types like Putin and Vance.


6 posted on 04/17/2026 5:31:11 AM PDT by Oklahoma
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To: MtnClimber

“striking enthusiasm among young people”

Some of their youth is as stupid as ours.


7 posted on 04/17/2026 5:31:37 AM PDT by Resolute Conservative
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To: Resolute Conservative

“Some of their youth is as stupid as ours.”

The GLOBALISTS are very good at ‘engineering’ these people.


8 posted on 04/17/2026 5:36:27 AM PDT by BobL (Trusting one's doctor is the #1 health mistake one can make.)
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To: MtnClimber
Voters, particularly younger generations, wanted new people in politics.


9 posted on 04/17/2026 5:40:02 AM PDT by tlozo (“We get a lot of bullshit thrown at us by Putin, if you want to know the truth,” Trump)
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To: MtnClimber; All

Very interesting election and analysis from many. The future for Hungarian citizens? Developing...


10 posted on 04/17/2026 5:42:17 AM PDT by PGalt (Past Peak Civilization?)
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To: MtnClimber
Magyar isn’t strong enough to maintain the “golden age” of economic collaboration with the United States that was established under Orbán.

Myth. Reality is Hungary has a "golden age" of economic collaboration with China and not the US.

In 2024, U.S.-Hungary bilateral goods trade totaled roughly 6.8 billion, while Hungary is a key European hub for Chinese investment, particularly in electric vehicles (EVs) and batteries, with bilateral trade reaching 16.2 billion in 2024.

As a major recipient of Chinese Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), Hungary hosts major projects from firms like CATL and BYD, positioning itself as a central node in China's European supply chain.

11 posted on 04/17/2026 5:48:20 AM PDT by tlozo (“We get a lot of bullshit thrown at us by Putin, if you want to know the truth,” Trump)
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To: Gen.Blather

“”””” Putin has been in power in one form or another for 26 years.”””””

It is that “in one form or another” that demonstrates to me just how extraordinarily powerful and brutal Putin is, he doesn’t even always need the office or the title, he just rules.


12 posted on 04/17/2026 5:55:19 AM PDT by ansel12 ((NATO warrior under Reagan, and RA under Nixon, bemoaning the pro-Russians from Vietnam to Ukraine.))
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To: MtnClimber; Skwor; Cronos; nathanbedford; Rockingham; FLT-bird
From the article: "Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and his Fidesz party were unexpectedly defeated in the April 12 parliamentary elections."

Nothing "unexpected" about it.

Polls showed for months that Orban would be defeated, that's why VP Vance went to help him.

I don't think Vance ever had a prayer of getting Orban reelected, but he did fulfill Trump's obligations of friendship to Orban.
He also, I'm certain, made sure Orban will abide by Hungary's voters' choices.

You think that's trivial?

In both the US and EU anti-MAGA & anti-MEGA forces major claim is that so-called "extreme right-wing" voters are anti-democratic and dictatorial.
Nobody epitomized that claim better than Viktor Orban, and his peaceful departure according to law will help silence voices who claim the "far right" cannot be trusted with elected offices.

So, Viktor Orban's peaceful departure becomes MAGA's response to multiple leftist "No Kings" demonstrations in the US and some 20 foreign countries -- proving again that, as always, our Leftist Democrats are tilting at windmills and yelling at clouds!


13 posted on 04/17/2026 6:10:43 AM PDT by BroJoeK (future DDG 134 -- we remember)
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To: MtnClimber

Orban never denounced the fact that his closest ally (the Kremlin) is ruling over the most Islamized nation (Russia) of geographical Europe!

15% of Russia’s population is Islamic
8% of France’s population is Islamic

The streets of Moscow over-taken and blocked by hundreds of thousands of praying Islamists :
https://youtube.com/shorts/HLlgbaF0G48?si=CIjEi9XROsVTz9KI

The Russia - Hungary pact is clearly not an example to follow…


14 posted on 04/17/2026 6:19:47 AM PDT by USA-FRANCE (Silence against evil isn't neutrality, it's complicity. Oppose the Iran-Russia-North Korea Alliance!)
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To: MtnClimber

The author is ignoring charges of corruption by Orban and his pro-Russian obstructionism in the EU.


15 posted on 04/17/2026 6:23:26 AM PDT by Petrosius
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To: MtnClimber

Ursula says “Jump!”, Magyar says “How High?”


16 posted on 04/17/2026 6:25:50 AM PDT by dfwgator ("I am Charlie Kirk!")
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To: Petrosius

The genuine nationalist and conservative won in Hungary. The contrarian populists are outing themselves left and right. Fakes and phonies all.


17 posted on 04/17/2026 6:28:09 AM PDT by lodi90
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To: BroJoeK; MtnClimber; Skwor; Cronos; nathanbedford; Rockingham; FLT-bird

“Nothing “unexpected” about it.”

>>>>>>>>>

Indeed. The polls always showed a clear win for the Hungary’s anti-Neo-Soviet party. What might have been slightly unexpected though is that they got a so called “super-majority” taking control of over two thirds of the parliament.
They can therefore now change the constitution if they want.

It’s therefore a sad moment for Orban and his very close ally : Communist China, and NeoSoviet Russia.


18 posted on 04/17/2026 6:37:25 AM PDT by USA-FRANCE (Silence against evil isn't neutrality, it's complicity. Oppose the Iran-Russia-North Korea Alliance!)
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To: lodi90
The genuine nationalist and conservative won in Hungary.

That remains to be seen. His willingness to deport former Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro and his deputy Marcin Romanowski back to Poland to face prosecution seems designed to appease EU shot-callers and is not encouraging.

19 posted on 04/17/2026 7:42:47 AM PDT by mac_truck (aide toi et dieu t'aidera)
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To: mac_truck

That remains to be seen. His willingness to deport former Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro and his deputy Marcin Romanowski back to Poland to face prosecution seems designed to appease EU shot-callers and is not encouraging.


No it isn’t. Tusk just wants to eliminate his opposition.


20 posted on 04/17/2026 7:43:40 AM PDT by dfwgator ("I am Charlie Kirk!")
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