After the election: Revitalizing Hungarian democracy, and lessons from the opposition victory

We should be cautious about drawing sweeping conclusions from Hungary’s election results. While the outcome reflects global trends, the causes of Orbán’s defeat are first and foremost, domestic. But there are a few lessons that democracy’s defenders can take home.

One is that not even entrenched autocrats can ignore the economy. Hungary’s growth practically flatlined in the last few years. A struggling economy leaves populists vulnerable - and a challenger who is in the right place at the right time can exploit that.

Second, politics is still personal, and a politically savvy, charismatic opponent can alleviate apathy and bring the people with them. Magyar spent more than a hundred days on the road, visiting several Hungarian towns every day.

And finally, it’s never too late. Orbán was in power for 16 years, and a whole new generation came of age under his rule. But not even a captured system could contain discontent or destroy people’s hope for something better.