Losing to Viktor Orbán Has Taught Hungary’s Left a Tough Lesson
Last April, Hungary’s opposition alliance united socialists, liberals, and conservatives in a common front against Viktor Orbán. But it was crushed at the ballot box — showing that the Left needs to bring voters material gains, not just an anti-Orbán message.
Hungary’s right-wing prime minister Viktor Orbán delivers his annual State of the Nation speech on February 18, 2023, after consolidating his majority in the April 2022 election. (Janos Kummer / Getty Images)
It’s been eighteen months since the Hungarian opposition was devastated at the ballot box.
In the April 2022 election, the Hungarian opposition — ranging from democratic socialist to conservative and even far-right forces — came together in a coalition called United for Hungary. They disagreed on many things but came together to end Viktor Orbán’s increasingly authoritarian tenure as prime minister.
Embarrassingly, however, their coalition failed to energize voters — and won eight fewer seats than its constituent parties had in the previous similar contest.
This article is for subscribers only. Please login or subscribe to access our full archives and beautiful print and digital magazine starting at just $3 a month.