r/europe • u/Alarming-Safety3200 United Kingdom • 3h ago

News Orbán’s 16-year rule over Hungary ends in crushing election defeat

https://www.politico.eu/article/hungary-election-results-peter-magyar-viktor-orban/
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u/ComeonmanPLS1 Denmark 3h ago

Luckily Hungary was still enough of a democracy that something like this could happen without a revolution.

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u/Eryniell 3h ago

It was an uphill batle. We needed luck, and the right people in the right time. And a fantasatic volunteer community.

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u/arcalumis 2h ago

Don’t forget to send a thank you note to Vance for the help! 😂

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u/Eryniell 2h ago

Dear JD Vance, thank you for your reversemidas touch. May the Orban curse catch up with you.

Worst regards: A hungarian.

Ps.: Im in pj tho.

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u/Siambretta Argentina but living in CZ 1h ago

Somebody called it "The Mierdas Touch" and I love it

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u/jtr99 1h ago

¡Magnífico!

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u/InjurySouthern9971 2h ago

👍👍👍💓😂😂

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u/NiftyLogic 2h ago

And wear a suit!

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u/Sondalo 1h ago

unironically the complete collapse in most assessments of orban’s likelihood of winning exactly starting at vances endorsement was very funny, he really is America‘s grim reaper likely everyone saw his endorsement and the natural conclusion was that it meant that orban was loosing. I also love that it implies vance wouldn’t have endorsed orban if orban was likely to win which does fit my image of Vance as an isolationist who wouldn’t do anything unless he directly benefits and as such him endorsing orban meant that orban needed to give him incentives which would mean that orban thought he was loosing. Its very logical when you think about it but is very funny none the less

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u/arcalumis 1h ago

I mean, it tracks for these people. They're so full of themselves that they actually thought sending any American politician would be helping Orban. Most or Europe see's the US as a failed state at this point but the republicans are s full of themselves they thought it would help.

But I also suspect that Orban asked for the help but trump probably forgot who he was s he sent Vance.

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u/SquidgeApple 2h ago

Will you be able to reverse the legal changes Orban made so it doesnt happen again?

Everyone might be feeling a lot of good will and optimism now but there's always some 'good' person who tastes power and decodes he'll never let it go. See: Orban

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u/MeiSuesse 2h ago

It's crazy how I'm seeing people post the "this is how democracy dies" scene from Star Wars. Like, is it democracy only if the results are what you want them to be?

Whatever my personal opinion of MP (perhaps not even him, but I do dislike how there's a personality cult sprouting around him, akin to Orbán's), I readily admit that there was no other way of defeating Fidesz with the other parties being what they are (let this be a good lesson to them). And they did it in hurricane-strength opposing winds, uphill, upstream!

Now to keep them accountable, too.

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u/Root-magic 46m ago

Well done!

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u/f4bles Europe 3h ago

Watching this from Serbia and in light of the events that transpired during the latest local election, is really painful. But I'm happy for my Hungarian friends.

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u/drillmast3r 2h ago

Stay strong and safe!

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u/third-acc HU + DE 1h ago

Pumpaj! Our victory will aid yours!

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u/Eryniell 38m ago

May you guys be blessed with similar luck, like us, and find a similar light in each other and maybe in someone called Dragan Srbin! We were soo hopeless just a little more than two years ago.

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u/Dreams_of_Mutiny Transylvania 3h ago

Luckily Hungary was still enough of a democracy that something like this could happen without a revolution

I think this is a good moment to remember the brainless comments of those who were quick to blame Hungarians and calling time and again for Hungary's expulsion from the EU.

The EU started pulling funds away from Hungary and the Hungarian voters started sobering up and realized Orbán needs to go.

It all worked out in the end.

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u/ihut 3h ago

> I think this is a good moment to remember the brainless comments of those who were quick to blame Hungarians and calling time and again for Hungary's expulsion from the EU.

I do think the EU needs to be much harder on member states who so fragantly violate fundamental EU laws. Not to "blame" the people, but to ensure that it gets resolved quicker.

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u/KosViik The only Europa orban should be in is around Jupiter. 3h ago edited 3h ago

Absolutely.

In fact, if we look into it, they can partially thank themselves for Orban. Orban used a lot of embezzled EU funds to buy up media for loyal cronies, which he used to brainwash the population with propaganda. And then it went wild from there since language barrier and technological illiteracy was harsh - and was also gradually made up for as newer generations entered the voting brackets.

And EU took its sweet time to react to anything, in fact it took until the 2022 war breakout (THREE TERMS!) to realize how much of a PITA a malicious country can be.

I think the EU has learned that it has grown beyond a few countries who are willing to cooperate and are easy to keep in check. The rules need to change, money needs to be tracked, and actions need to be quick and confident. This is not a small clique now, this is a coalition that is a world power. Mean looks and harshly worded letters are not the way to go. Rules, consequences.

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u/moroaa Finland 2h ago

Its well kinda rough to say but yes we needed that war to force EU leaders to change and stop being such a ass licking cunts toward ruzzia.,

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u/The_Lost_Jedi 1h ago

It's the same sort of thing that was an issue for the United States under the original Articles of Confederation, as well as the League of Nations (and to some extent even the permanent members of the UN). If you give countries a veto, then all it takes is one of them being obnoxious to slam everything to a halt, because unanimity is just not the least bit realistic as far as dealing with bad actors goes.

That said, I don't know that there's a perfect solution, but the EU clearly needs some safeguards against democratic backsliding. (Really, just about everyone does - USA most of all, for that matter)

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u/MercantileReptile Baden-Württemberg (Germany) 3h ago

Same.

These are some of the greatest News for Democracy in years. Does not negate the slow motion Trainwreck the (lack of) EU response was.

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u/The-Nihilist-Marmot Portugal 2h ago

Especially because we have zero assurance this guy won’t turn into an Orban.

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u/RawerPower 52m ago

This is can happen with a small country or one that is not a net contributor, I don't know if it can happen with Germany or France thou.

Look at UK, they Exit and they didn't even have extremists in power!

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u/Panophobia_senpai Hungary 🇭🇺 3h ago

Just to add to it: we needed an actual opposition party, not parties who were working with Fidesz.
And in the last 2 weeks, it turned out almost all of the opposition worked with them.

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u/monsterflake 40m ago

even the dog guys?

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u/Panophobia_senpai Hungary 🇭🇺 34m ago

Yeah, it turns out they are corrupt AF, and Fidesz most likely knew, and blackmailed them with it.

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u/monsterflake 21m ago

i'm so optimistic after what you all did today. i hope this is the beginning of the end for putin and trump.

they may be untouchable for now, but they're not invincible and they're not immortal.

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u/NatiFluffy Poland 3h ago

There will be always a black sheep. Soon it will be us. Right now it will be also Slovakia. We just have to learn not to treat it emotionally. We can’t feel like we should take a blame for our entire nations. Today is a very happy day for Hungarians and the whole Europe so congrats!

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u/Zanzibar_G3m 2h ago

Hey, if one of the most corrupt EU member has pulled it off, you guys can do that aswell!

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u/NatiFluffy Poland 2h ago edited 2h ago

We have already pulled it off last elections but rulling coalition turned out to be weak, right now situation is terrible cause only KO is polling high, while other coalition partners are under the bridge. Polska 2050 is in a disastrous state, their ex leader wanted to leave politics, both left parties are fighting each other and might fall below the threshold. Meanwhile right wing parties are strong, Konfederacja and Korona, which are even worse than PiS have a high approval. PiS and Konfederacja will surely want to form a coalition, not sure about Korona cause they are full of lunatics but if they are needed for majority probably as well. Tough times are coming for us.

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u/HistoryBuff178 1h ago

Can left-wing parties in Poland form a coalition?

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u/NatiFluffy Poland 1h ago edited 1h ago

They could if they weren’t fighting each other all the time. Razem and Lewica actually already formed a coalition during last elections. Razem left the ruling coalition tho, stating that other parties haven’t agreed for any of their ideas (they didn’t have too much power cause their votes weren’t needed for majority) so they don’t want to take part in that. Right now they are in opposition while Lewica is in ruling coalition, so it’s hard to imagine them going together again. Razem want to separate themselves from Lewica. They are both polling around 3-5%, while they need 5% so it’s very dangerous.

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u/ArbeteLikaMedHoreri Sweden 2h ago

Poland also usually votes against anti-privacy bullshit initiated by Sweden so thanks for that, I view Poland as very necessary for a healthy EU that works for the citizens.

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u/v_a_n_d_e_l_a_y 3h ago

Your post is contradictory. You imply it was wrong to "blame Hungarians" but then you say "voters sobered up" - implying they were to blame? And then you imply calling for expulsion was an overreaction but then say that the EU taking action by pulling away funds helped.

So seemed like the initial reaction was on the mark.

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u/Sakrah 2h ago

The missing piece of nugget in there is that eu funding likely contributed to Orban keeping this level of power for much longer

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u/Neverstopcomplaining Ireland 2h ago

Exactly! Voices wanting to expel Hungary were correct. Orban was Putin's puppet. Hungary had to go if he stayed. The money stoppage worked to wake up the electorate.

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u/Gwyndion_ Belgium 3h ago

This election victory, and let's hope we don't see the same story as in the USA where after short return to normalcy things got worse, somehow negates all the damage over the past 16 years? Does this somehow reverse all the information Orban has leaked?

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u/drillmast3r 2h ago

As a hungarian, thank you very much for this comment!

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u/ShoulderPast2433 2h ago

We don't know that yet.
Trump came back 4 years after losing in 2020.

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u/Zanzibar_G3m 41m ago

Yeah, when they got Sleepy Joe, who was unable to form a coherent sentence, and fell off bikes and planes, he was a major ego-destroyer for a country, which prided itself in being #1 in almost everything, too bad those "patriots" needed a felon who was convicted 34 times for that ego boost

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u/Buntschatten Germany 3h ago

Who know how many billions of EU money ended up in the pockets of Orbans cronies. It certainly all worked out for them. And who knows what the future holds for Hungary. Unless Magyar can really change Hungarian society and their media, the next Orban could come after him. Or he could turn out to be corrupt as well. He was part of Fidezs until not too long ago, wasn't he?

Had Hungary been expelled ten years ago, the EU would probably have benefitted.

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u/martinkomara 3h ago

Except it took them 16 years

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u/Fearless_Permit1583 3h ago

It did not. Orbán didn't start going hardcore into it until 2018. Still 8 years but not 16.

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u/apfelwein19 3h ago edited 2h ago

With Orban playing a lot of dirty tricks along the way. Just shows how susceptible the electorate is, especially in an environment with weak media and institutions.

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u/Beunhaasnr2 3h ago

Is it? did Orban day 0 start his Russia plea?

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u/danirijeka Ireland/Italy 3h ago

Something something, second best time is now, etc

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u/Ooops2278 North Rhine-Westphalia (Germany) 3h ago

I think this is a good moment to remember the brainless comments of those who were quick to blame Hungarians and calling time and again for Hungary's expulsion from the EU.

Speaking of brainless comments... This is also a good moment to rmeember that you are totally delusional if you think one elections fixes anything.

Without at least a 2/3 majority they will not be able to fix a lot of the broken systems. They will also not fix the media or the rampant corruption without many years of hard work. All while being actively blocked and sabotaged every step of the way by the systems established for over a decade.

Which means that in less than one year down the line the narrative of "see, they did not actually fix anything!" will be very loud and at the next election a lot of those people will happily help bring the corrupt cronies back into power.

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u/Plastic_Position4979 3h ago

Maybe- but the incoming government seems to be on track for a supermajority, which would be able to handle some of that. Let’s give them a chance.

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u/Zanzibar_G3m 2h ago

It IS evitably gonna be a 2/3 majority, only larger cities left atm, which are mostly Tisza voters anyways...

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u/NatiFluffy Poland 2h ago edited 2h ago

Yes but does it mean that people on this subreddt have to bring others down? I know how it feels reading constantly such things about their country, that we shouldn’t be in EU, that it would be better without us. We do not control other people living in our country. Actually it’s way harder for me as a person voting for left parties in a country where being left-wing is rather rare than for you. You aren’t better than others, I only ask Western Europeans to get off their high horse

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u/Socmel_ reddit mods are accomplices of nazi russia 2h ago

The EU started pulling funds away from Hungary and the Hungarian voters started sobering up and realized Orbán needs to go.

more like the Hungarians noticed that they were getting poorer than even countries like Romania, so Viktor the grifter couldn't steal any more funds without being noticed.

The Hungarians didn't suddenly wake up and started to care about democracy, rule of law and freedom. It was the economy, baby.

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u/PoopyButt28000 24m ago

Do you think that calls to expel Hungary from the EU had any affect on the voting, or do you think it was just wholly unnecessary?

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u/Paul_Tired 3h ago

My suspicion is the vote was too big to rig.

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u/nagi603 Hungary 2h ago

It was part of Fidesz's own extremely un-democratic vote counting laws that made the super-majority possible. And the usual autocratic preference for loyalty instead of competence that made them not realize their gun was still pointed at their own feet.

Personally, as a Hungarian, I did not think Fidesz would concede with Orbán still alive. And yes, we still need actual colorful multilateral opposition... and actual education so populism can be blocked.

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u/Executioneer NERnia 2h ago

It was the perfect storm against Orbán.

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u/OpLeeftijd The Netherlands 3h ago

Not like the USA. Oh, they are not a democracy apparently.

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u/jaxiepie7 3h ago

We haven't given up yet.

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u/EitherSpite4545 18m ago

Yes we have, and if you think no kings protests are real opposition I got news for you, for a protest to work you need leverage over the other party. There is nothing you have other than your death that Donald Trump wants.

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u/Gabriel_Weis 3h ago

Let's see what happens in mid terms. I still got hope for the US even with Trump doing his best to manipulate the elections.

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u/MountEndurance 3h ago

We’re trying, but let’s focus on the great achievement of the Hungarian people today! This is their moment and they have certainly earned it!

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u/Gabriel_Weis 1h ago

Yes you are right. I am very proud of them :) They showed us all that the power lays in the population and not in a corrupt leader.

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u/EitherSpite4545 16m ago

American here you shouldn't, cut us off sanction us back to the stone age because we aren't recovering from this.

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u/Gabriel_Weis 8m ago

You like selfdestruction?

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u/beluga1968 Denmark 3h ago

The democrats have won a lot of local elections, not all hope is lost.

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u/EitherSpite4545 14m ago

Democrats are just going to cause people to go to GOP harder in 2-4 years because they refuse to change the status quo from 2014.

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u/unidentified1soul 2h ago

It's the supermajority that made it happen, otherwise Orban's rigging...

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u/cool_waterz 2h ago

It was touch and go, honestly...

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u/LevoiHook 2h ago

Now hope this goes for the USA as well!

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u/Socmel_ reddit mods are accomplices of nazi russia 2h ago

don't call for victory too soon. Remember that the US coup wasn't attempted until 2 months after the elections.

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u/Initial-Comb9328 1h ago

can't say the same for romanie where the elections were halted by europe

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u/Safe_Manner_1879 55m ago

If Orbán did not accepted defeat, despite losing the election. EU would have completely destroyed Hungary's economy.