T
he support given to Viktor Orban by US Vice President JD Vance, who made an ideological pilgrimage to Budapest five days before the parliamentary elections on Sunday, April 12, was not enough to alter the outcome. "Viktor has been a great example in charting a course that could lead to a better, more prosperous [...] Europe," Vance argued in an attempt to persuade Hungarians. But voters did not share his assessment and delivered a clear rebuke to Fidesz, the prime minister's party.
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Hungary celebrates 'return to Europe' after Orban's crushing electoral defeat
Orban came to power 16 years ago by condemning the system that had led to the 2008 financial crisis. Hungary has been forced to accept a humiliating bailout imposed by international financial institutions. Deep cuts in welfare spending fueled widespread resentment. The Fidesz leader promised to break with the "liberal paradigm" by building a "sovereign" economy, free from the "dictates" of Brussels and the appetites of multinational corporations.
