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Orban’s Loss In Hungary Gives Hope To Liberal Democracies Around The World

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Ali Velshi Asks, If Orbán Can Lose in Hungary …

The MS NOW host and Citizen board member points to the long-time prime minister and his party's loss as a beacon of hope to backsliding democracies around the world.

Listen

Ali Velshi Asks, If Orbán Can Lose in Hungary …

The MS NOW host and Citizen board member points to the long-time prime minister and his party's loss as a beacon of hope to backsliding democracies around the world.

BY Ali Velshi

Apr. 20, 2026

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Viktor Orbán has been in power in Hungary as Prime Minister since 2010. During his rule, Hungary has seen a significant backsliding of democracy, including a crackdown on rights, an increase in corruption, a weakening of the independent judiciary, extreme anti-immigration policy, and the near-elimination of the independent press. Despite the illiberal democracy the nation had become, Hungarians managed to overwhelmingly defeat Orbán and his political party in the elections this past week. Ali Velshi points to this electoral victory as a beacon of hope for democracies around the world.

Illiberal democracy is a form of government where elections take place, but the opposition of repressed, rulers at times ignore and often alter the constitution to gain and maintain power, rights are restricted, and freedoms are not guaranteed. If becomes difficult for the public and opposition to overcome the group in power as institutions that protect and preserve democracy are eliminated.

Orbán, who like Trump was on his second round as a national leader (he previously served as prime minister from 1998 to 2002), had the U.S. president’s endorsement and the support of vice-president JD Vance, who visited in person. Péter Magyar and his victorious Tisza party are still further right than the center-right in Hungarian politics, but their win still represents the people’s rejection of far-right authoritarianism.

The dismantling of Orbán’s illiberal democracy has already begun. One of the first steps Magyar took after his coalition’s win was to appear on state controlled media, established by Orban to replace the independent press, and announce that those state media outlets would be shut down.

The Hungarian parliamentary elections of 2026 should offer hope for eroding democracies. The power of the people, even when diminished through corruption, state media, and seizure of independent institutions, is stronger than authoritarianism.

LISTEN: VELSHI ON ORBAN’S DEFEAT

 

WATCH: HUNGARIAN ELECTIONS OFFER HOPE FOR DEMOCRACY

 

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