A few days before historic elections, the visit of American Vice President J.D. Vance to Hungary aimed to throw the full weight of the Trump administration behind Viktor Orbán. Despite trailing in the polls for months, his best ally in Europe faced a deficit that this American help did not help him overcome.
Last week, in front of thousands of supporters of Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz Party, Vance tried to call his boss, requesting that Donald Trump deliver his message to them. The first attempt was unsuccessful: the vice president reached the president’s voicemail (which was not set up). Another call later, Donald Trump finally answered, stating that he was with Viktor Orbán “to the end” and that the outgoing prime minister was doing a “fantastic job.”
In response to this American offensive, opposition candidate Péter Magyar, who was elected as the head of government on Sunday, declared that the elections would not be decided in Washington, Brussels, or Moscow, but in the streets of Hungary.
This statement aligns with the campaign led by the 45-year-old politician, a former member of Viktor Orbán’s party who defected to create his own movement and denounce the corruption of the current government.
Tisza, the party led by Mr. Magyar, focused on national policy issues. The aspiring prime minister promised to address Hungary’s stagnant economy, with GDP growth limited to 0.4% last year. He also pledged to unlock European funds that have not yet been delivered to Hungary. The EU cited setbacks in democracy and minority rights in the country as reasons for withholding €17 to 18 billion.
On the other hand, the outgoing prime minister, who has been in power uninterrupted for 16 years, heavily emphasized foreign policy. Posters put up by Viktor Orbán’s party compared his rival Péter Magyar to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, suggesting that Hungary might get involved in the conflict with Russia in Ukraine if the opposition wins.
The focus on economic issues, coupled with a weariness of those in power, seems to have paid off for Péter Magyar. Given the magnitude of his victory, his party will hold a supermajority of over two-thirds of the seats in the Hungarian parliament.
In a press conference on Tuesday, the future prime minister criticized his predecessor for being too focused on Russia, Ukraine, Iran, and American elections, neglecting issues like health, education, and the cost of living. He attributed this to the cause of his predecessor’s failure.
In the United States as well, domestic concerns outweigh international ones for the electorate. A YouGov survey from early April showed that inflation and prices were the top priority for 34% of Americans. Interestingly, on economic issues, Donald Trump has a negative approval rating of -20%.
Despite the differences in political systems, the approach taken by the Hungarian opposition could potentially resonate across the Atlantic, inspiring those who aim to defeat Donald Trump’s Republicans in the upcoming midterm elections in November.
Leading up to the Hungarian election, opposition forces rallied behind Péter Magyar, who rose through the ranks in Viktor Orbán’s circle before establishing his own movement in 2024.
While not a liberal, Péter Magyar is a conservative candidate advocating for strict immigration policies similar to those of the Orbán government. Yet, it is in him that the youth and the left have placed their hopes.
Once in power, rivalries may resurface, but during a lengthy campaign, almost everyone who wanted to see Viktor Orbán defeated put aside their differences and focused on issues, particularly economic ones, that resonate with a large number of voters. This strategy enabled them to make significant gains not only in Budapest but also in rural regions typically loyal to Viktor Orbán’s party.
On Sunday evening, Viktor Orbán quickly acknowledged the election results and conceded victory to his opponent, unlike Donald Trump, who has yet to concede his defeat to Joe Biden in 2020.
With the departure of Viktor Orbán, Donald Trump loses his top ally in Europe. A prime minister critical of the EU, whose government was seen as a model in certain circles close to the president.
Viktor Orbán was the first European leader to congratulate Donald Trump on his re-election in 2024 and had been invited to the CPAC conference, a major event for American conservatives.
Two years later, the defeat of Mr. Orbán appears to provide valuable lessons for Donald Trump on the need to focus on national issues to regain public favor.
Will this message be lost on a voicemail?
