Mud-slinging in Hungarian election campaign

Although Tisza is no guarantee of change, it is most certainly the only hope for it, writes Social Democrat politician Béla Fábry (MSZP) in Népszava:

“We must put our faith in change. We must give this scenario a chance to make our country functional. This question is particularly sensitive for people on the political left. Will a former Fidesz party soldier, whose camp also includes several erstwhile Fidesz servants, really bring about change? What guarantee is there of this? There is no guarantee. There is only hope. We must recognise that all previous attempts by the democratic opposition to overcome the Orbán system have failed.”

Let's not count our chickens before they hatch, political scientist Jarosław Kuisz warns in Interia:

“More and more Hungarians are offended by the fact that Orbán's relatives and acquaintances have taken over power in the state structures. ... Not everyone is happy about the warm words for the Kremlin either. The list of reasons for democratic change could go on. The question, however, is whether it's even possible to oust Orbán from power. I remember well how, before the last elections in Hungary, the Hungarian bear's skin was being divided up before the animal had been killed. In practice, this was just wishful thinking. And nothing seems to be decided yet for 2026 either.”

According to Diena the power struggle in Hungary could also have consequences in the US:

“Both camps have mobilised all available resources and supporters and are not holding back on the mutual accusations. This is about much more than just retaining or changing the government in Hungary and its current course. The election outcome is seen as having major symbolic and in some ways even global significance. Orbán is regarded as the main supporter and promoter of US President Donald Trump's political course in Europe, as well as a close personal friend of Trump. For this reason his potential defeat would be perceived as a blow to Trump, especially in view of the upcoming midterm elections in the US.”

Handelsblatt says the EU must finally talk turkey with Hungary:

“Brussels can no longer afford to drag along members who see 'the European Union, not Russia, as the real threat'. That's how Orban has framed it in his election campaign. Europe is not just a community based on the rule of law but first and foremost a community based on values – and Hungary has been sinning against both on a regular basis for years. There is no procedure for forced expulsion from the EU. But an unambiguous signal to Budapest that enough is enough and that Hungary must either radically change its policy or take the initiative for a 'Huxit' is long overdue.”

Tisza's election programme is technocratic, but at least it has one, hvg observes:

“The Tisza platform promises almost everything, from rebuilding the rule of law to reviving the economy and ending energy dependence on Russia. ... The programme seems perfectly suited to winning over left-liberal hearts and could also serve to rebuild the country. The question is whether it will be enough to win the elections. The problem is that Tisza's programme is honest, almost technocratic. ... However, the ruling party will find it difficult to hide the fact that the last time Fidesz had a written, verifiable programme was in 2010 - a fact that is politically easy for Tisza to communicate.”

Magyar Hang voices concern:

“One of the most disturbing features of public life in Hungary today is not the incitement to hatred itself but the fact that so few people perceive it as a real danger. Enemy stereotypes appear again and again on posters, in news programmes, national consultations and government statements - yet for many this is simply a 'natural component of politics'. As if exclusion were nothing more than a style, a tone of voice, a communication trick. ... But Hungarian society is neither stupid nor evil. ... The problem is learned indifference. This indifference is not innate, but a defence mechanism built up from experience.”

Simply winning the election won't be enough to destroy Orbán's power, Gazeta Wyborcza concludes:

“The election campaign in Hungary is uneven because Fidesz has the most resources (both organisational and financial). To come to power, Tisza must win by a clear margin. ... Owing to changes in the constituency boundaries that favour Fidesz, Magyar's party must achieve a lead of around ten percentage points to gain a majority in parliament. And even that may not be enough to dismantle the mechanisms that protect Orbán's state apparatus. The most important laws, such as those that place state assets under the control of people loyal to the prime minister, require a two-thirds majority in parliament.”

Der Standard columnist Paul Lendvai criticises the Hungarian prime minister's double standards in foreign policy:

“Just under two months before the next Hungarian parliamentary elections, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who is under pressure from Tisza, the strong opposition party, has launched a new hate campaign against Ukraine. All means of mass communication are being used to stoke fears of war, to portray Ukraine and the EU as enemies and to cast the Orbán government as the sole guarantor of peace and security. ... Unlike the hate campaign portraying the EU and Ukraine as warmongers, the Russian and Chinese dictatorships are not criticised in any way.”

Tisza voters are putting predictability at risk, the pro-government newspaper Vasárnap warns:

“Those who truly feel that the situation is so dire that anything, even total uncertainty, would be better, should courageously vote for Tisza. Those who have nothing to lose can take the risk. But those who feel that their lives are manageable and predictable and that they have a vision for the future should think about where this could lead if we destroy everything we've achieved so far and start from scratch. ... A radical change of system and government does not mean that the good things will remain and the bad will be improved. ... It is quite uncertain what the outcome would be.”

The long-serving prime minister is no longer a guarantee of stability, Népszava warns:

“On 12 April the battle will not end, but only begin. And it hardly matters who the extremely distorted Hungarian electoral system, manipulated in a thousand ways, ultimately declares the winner, because he will exist in a completely new reality anyway. ... The [Orbán] system is failing and has begun to disintegrate. The basic conditions for Orbán's unprecedented, astonishing power - EU funding, the global economic situation, support from Germany and a weak opposition - have disappeared or are in the process of being eliminated. And even if Orbán remains in power, he cannot guarantee the stability of his system.”

The opposition's foreign policy concept is inadequate, Index maintains:

“The opposition party's main message is that under the Tisza Party's leadership the country would opt for Europe ... But today it is no longer clear what the future holds for Europe. ... You can criticise the Orbán government's foreign policy strategy, but you can't say it has none, or that it hasn't developed one or made it public yet. ... In a world where the old order no longer functions and the new one has not yet emerged, the more dangerous option is for a country to have no strategic vision or plan at all, or to cling desperately to the rules of the crumbling old order.”