Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is facing a tough re-election battle ahead of the parliamentary elections on 12 April. The polls indicate that Orbán's Fidesz party is trailing behind the main challenger, Péter Magyar's Tisza party, by nearly 10 percentage points. This shift in public debate has led to a question that was previously unthinkable: whether Orbán will accept defeat.
Orbán's popularity among international authoritarian and nationalist leaders is a significant factor in his re-election campaign. He has become a central figure among far-right leaders, who admire his articulation of the concept of the "illiberal state". This ideology, which Orbán has been practicing for 16 years, involves dismantling the central pillars of liberal democracy. The European Parliament has already declared Hungary an "electoral autocracy" due to Orbán's actions.
The support of prominent far-right leaders, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, has rallied behind Orbán. In a joint video message, they praised Orbán's leadership and declared that the "camp of patriots, defenders of nations and sovereign peoples" is enjoying increasing success in Europe.
The Hungarian elections have significant implications beyond the country's borders. The outcome will be closely watched by international observers, who are eager to see whether Orbán's authoritarian model can withstand the challenge of democratic forces.
The international right's endorsement of Viktor Orbán may ultimately prove to be a double-edged sword. While it may boost his popularity among far-right supporters, it could also reinforce the perception that he is out of touch with the democratic values that are increasingly prevalent in Europe. As the Hungarian people head to the polls on 12 April, the world will be watching to see whether Orbán's authoritarian model can withstand the test of democratic forces. The outcome of this election will have far-reaching implications for the future of democracy in Europe.
