Description: Hungarian prime minister, Viktor Orban, lost the general election to his former Fidesz colleague turned political opponent, Peter Magyar, and his Tisza party. Magyar celebrated the election victory giving a 40-minute-long speech on the Danube river, followed by a three – hour press conference. The victory represented a political sigh of relief for the European Union which has been at odds with Viktor Orban’s policies, especially regarding Ukraine. Magyar triumphed on a centrist and conservative platform, providing guarantees of Hungary’s restored place within the EU and NATO as a trusted partner. He also promised the return of democracy, trampling down on corruption and dismantling Orban’s authoritarian grip on the country’s judicial system. His initial statements resounded mostly with Europe, as he promised that Hungary no longer represented an obstacle in Ukraine’s sovereign right to defend itself, however, he also stated that Hungary’s president and all remnants from Orban’s rule should resign. Magyar also provided a realistic assessment of Hungary’s energy dependence to Russia, claiming that the country could not change its geography and its partnership with Russia was one of necessity rather than leniency or alignment. Tisza managed to secure 138 parliamentary seats in the 199 – seat parliament, providing Magyar with a carte blanche in the form of supermajority to enforce the party’s promised political reforms.
Impact: Magyar’s victory most likely signals Hungary’s gradual slide towards the European Union while also maintaining a carefully curated relationship of convenience with Russia. Tisza and Magyar would likely face obstacles within the current Hungarian opposition but would likely be able to commence Hungary’s political transformation, towards an EU – centered country with transparent values, considering Tisza’s supermajority in parliament. The victory represents a significant disadvantage to Russia’s regional and continental interests as Moscow loses its most trusted ally within the Union and CEE region. Magyar’s promised reforms would likely take years to be implemented, however, immediate steps such as judicial transformation and Ukraine’s $90 billion defense package are no longer considered obstacles between Hungary and the European Union. Magyar still pertains to Hungary’s conservative political portfolio and his statements calling for the president’s resignation likely indicate that the core of his political reforms would transpire politically rightwards.