{"id":13754,"date":"2022-04-28T10:01:00","date_gmt":"2022-04-28T08:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.progressives-zentrum.org\/en\/?p=13754"},"modified":"2022-10-04T10:08:09","modified_gmt":"2022-10-04T08:08:09","slug":"hungarian-elections-lessons-for-european-progressives","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.progressives-zentrum.org\/en\/hungarian-elections-lessons-for-european-progressives\/","title":{"rendered":"Hungarian elections: Lessons for European progressives"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Viktor Orb\u00e1n successfully held on to power in Hungary. The aspired regime change did not come to fruition. Nonetheless, the united opposition\u2019s campaign was not in vain. It unmistakably elucidated illiberal state practices which provide us with valuable insights into political strategies, narratives, and messaging. What lessons can European progressives take away for future alliances?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hungary\u2019s recent parliamentary elections might have been \u2018free\u2019, but they could certainly not be considered \u2018fair\u2019. Moreover, in his opening remarks, L\u00e1szl\u00f3 Andor invoked Martin Luther King to speak about the \u201cdarkness\u201d that had fallen over the Hungarian political landscape. While these may be dark times of continued autrocratization in Hungary, the broad coalition of opposition parties across the political spectrum can be a potential beacon of light for the future. Besides analysing its electoral shortcoming, the question emerges: what can progressive alliances across Europe learn from the united opposition and the campaign against Viktor Orb\u00e1n?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One election, two playing fields<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Kl\u00e1ra Dobrev emphasized the illiberal and biased context of the elections, where Fidesz exerted almost complete control over the public discourse to restrict the oppositions\u2018 ability to campaign effectively<\/strong>. This included using a database created to administer the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccination, as well as substantial public funds for campaigning purposes. In combination with a media landscape that overwhelmingly featured the ruling party, these obstacles proved to be insurmountable for the time being and indicate the extent to which Viktor Orb\u00e1n has entrenched himself in power. Furthermore, Dobrev contended that the political dominance of the Fidesz party and corresponding undermining of the rule of law could not have been built without European Union funds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rewatch the discussion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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