Democracy Won Today
Taking a little bit of time off from reading about the potentially devastating developments in the Persian Gulf, I noted the fantastic news that Prime Minister Victor Orban, Hungarian strongman and the leader of “illiberal democracy”, lost in today’s election in Hungary. The opposition, led by Peter Magyar (could there be a more Hungarian name?) defeated Orban and his Fidesz party handily, winning over ⅔ of parliamentary seats.
Mr. Orban, supported by Trump, Putin and extreme right parties, is a darling of the neo-fascists both in our country and around the world. Despite his anti-semitic demonization of George Soros, an Hungarian Holocaust survivor, he counts Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel, as one of his friends.
His electoral campaign focused on President Zelensky of Ukraine as an enemy of Hungary, and trying to drag the country into war.
Vice-President Vance, who visited Hungary before his unsuccessful negotiations with Iran in Islamabad, Pakistan, called out Zelensky for his response to allegations that Ukraine was deliberately trying to cut oil off from Hungary. Vance said: “It’s completely scandalous…You should never have a foreign head of government … threatening the head of government of an allied nation.” Of course Vice-President Vance had no problem trying to humiliate President Zelensky of Ukraine in the Oval Office in the past.
Thank you, Mr. Vice-President, for your support of the Neo-Nazi Alternative for Germany (AFD) and the likes of Mr. Orban.
Hungary under Orban has been described as the most corrupt country in Europe. It has blocked E.U. initiatives regarding Ukraine. He has presided over a stagnant economy, with low GDP growth, high inflation and a large national debt.
Of note, 8,500 physicians, out of a total of 33,000, have left the country in the past decade. When I visited Budapest 20 years ago, I interviewed a physician at the local medical school, and researched the sorry state of medicine in Hungary. Doctors were poorly paid, and patients had to resort to “gratitude payments” to get their ill relatives admitted to hospitals. Things have apparently not improved since then.
I am overjoyed that the people of Hungary spoke, and a true democracy is being re-established in Hungary. It can now be a cooperative part of the E.U., and help in the Ukrainian struggle against Russia.
Sorry, Messrs. Trump, Vance, Putin, and Netanyahu and to the AFD.
References:
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/12/world/europe/hungary-election-orban-magyar.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/14/us/politics/vance-far-right-germany-munich-afd.html
https://www.oecd.org/en/topics/sub-issues/economic-surveys/hungary-economic-snapshot.html