Stunning loss of rightwing populist in Hungary carries symbolic significance for opponents of Donald Trump
For US Democrats seeking rays of light in the dark landscape of Donald Trump’s authoritarian onslaught, illumination has arrived from the unlikely source of Budapest.
Viktor Orbán’s stunning defeat in Hungary’s general election – ending 16 years of unbroken rule for his governing Fidesz party – carries symbolic and psychological significance for American politics out of all proportion to the central European country’s modest size and distance from the US.
People are high from huffing post-election good vibes, and in today’s world, even minor victories seem rare; so I don’t blame anyone for not being aware, but the guy replacing Orban is also a rightwing populist. He (so far) doesn’t appear to be one of Putin’s lapdogs, but he is still very much far right. This wasn’t a rejection of authoritarianism, or rightwing values, it was simply a rejection of Orban himself. I think it’s important to temper expectations here.