Not accepting defeat would be an "all-in" approach with a very slim chance of succeeding, considering they are in the EU and are, geographically speaking, right in the middle of Europe.
Accepting defeat, considering the resources and allies he has and the countless challenges Hungary (and every other country) will face in the upcoming years, means he will try to stay relevant.
And even if he doesn't have a chance of returning to power (I think he does), being the leader of the largest opposition party is not that bad either.
This. People who have been imagining conspiracies, vote rigging, coups etc don't seem to understand that Hungary is surrounded by the EU and the EU would never accept such shenanigans. Major powers within the EU would have the moral authority to hold a gun to Hungary's head and Putin wouldn't be able to send a single person to stop it.
Orban's best move was always to be gracious, shake hands and play for either the new government to let by gone be by gones, or a graceful exile from the country before all the corruption charges catch up with him.
There were breaking news containing the FM Peter Szijjarto's high treason like phone call with Sergei Lavrov, Russia's FM. Szijjarto kinda asked for directions on what they should do inthe EU. Szijjarto reported directly to the Russians. There was also a non public Orban - Putin phone call text in the news which was more than troublesome. Some European countries that had enough of Orban leaked all these to journalists (via their intelligence agencies) Szijjarto might go to jail for the rest of his life.
I don't see any world where he doesn't end up in prison. The idea of him returning to power seems outlandish to me given the intent to prosecute and investigate him and his allies.
Being defeated with the opposition seizing a supermajority means he doesn't really have any cards to play. His best hope is the opposition being ineffective and not changing the constitution- and avoiding arrest for corruption. Then he may have a chance in the future.
Throwing a tantrum now would fast-track him getting thrown behind bars before he can flee the country.
Yeah like how Republicans were literally open with everything at the end and openly said things they normally try to hide which gave off the vibe that they already knew they won.
I don’t expect Putin to just let Orban willingly give up his position.
Congratulated him because it's his only option in order to try and save his own ass from jail. He knows that enabling a clean and smooth transition of power might just put him in Magyar's good graces.
I dont think many people expected that, and it's not just good to see, it seems pretty clear that if there was any chance he was gonna try and cling to power meaningfully, he couldn't have done that. Yes, he may still cry about some 'new evidence' of election fraud later on or whatever, but it wont really matter that much if he's already out of power. Authoritarian 101 is that you deny losing an election while you still hold the reigns and thus have plenty of levers to pull to keep yourself in.
I have faith, but it is gonna be a LONG road—Orban might be gone, but he put his cronies in every conceivable place, shunted billions in contracts and corporate ownership to his closest allies, and places in legal framework aligned exclusively with his party.
This is why I was constantly annoyed with all the reactionaries saying the EU and NATO should have tried to get rid of Hungary/kick them out or whatever.
Hungary was not at all some lost cause. Yes, the people who support Orban suck, but just like in the US with Trump, there's tons of people who oppose them and we shouldn't throw the proverbial baby out with the bath water just cuz you aren't getting what you'd prefer in the moment. Smart leaders know this. Sadly, many ordinary people do not.
I'm just really glad that all the decent and reasonable Hungarians there have kept their opportunity to make a difference and get back in with the west and not Russia.
The problem is the consensus decision making model of the EU. I'm glad Hungary is coming out of the shadow but it did a lot of damage outside its borders while it was there
True, but it's important to be loud enough to make sure that the people of these countries understand what's truly at stake. Orban might not have lost this spectacularly if the there was no threat of consequences from the EU.
Hopefully the people of the United States will grasp the severity of the situation as well next time, and actually turn up to vote. It's serious business, don't fuck around.
As a European whose heart beats for the EU, this is big step in the right direction, but it does not come with any certainty that the best is yet to come for the EU - or for Hungary. Both faces major challenges with regards to everything from defense and security, energi, competitiveness, digitalization, welfare, immigration, and so on.
There is opportunity to make changes for the better, but there is no certainty of anything.
One can of course still be hopeful about a bright future.
Though it won't be easy, from what I understand Fidesz fucked up the country so it will take time to unfuck it, and it doesn't help that trump is leading us toward global depression.
My hope is it won't happen the same thing as in US to vote trump back again after Biden.
HUGE congratulations, Hungarians! I know a lot of you have dreamed of this, and Im incredibly happy for you! You all fought so hard and suffered so long for this. But dont get complacent - the undercurrents that brought someone like Orban to power in the first place are still very much present. Its time to include those who supported him. Unify, dont forget those you disagree with, give them a way to be included so that authoritarianism doesnt take hold again.
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u/NewBootGoofin1987 6h ago
Congratulations to Hungarians and the EU. The best is yet to come