National conservatism was dealt a blow this week when Hungarians ousted Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in the country's parliamentary elections on Sunday. The country turned out in record numbers to elect Péter Magyar, a former Orbán loyalist and the leader of the center-right Tisza party, who declared that "together, we liberated Hungary." With record turnout, preliminary election results put Magyar's Tisza party on course for 138 seats in the 199-seat parliament, with Orbán's nationalist Fidesz party on course for 55, and the far-right Our Homeland on course for six.
While Orbán's defeat has undoubtedly been met with dismay by his MAGA allies, much of Hungary has celebrated the news. "We are so happy that Orbán is finally gone!" said one Hungarian celebrating on Sunday night, as the crowd in the capital chanted "Russians go home!"
Given Orbán spent 16 years in office, this response is understandable. After being elected in 2010, one of the first things his party did was amend the constitution to give itself more power, despite making no promise of constitutional reform during the election. The new constitution, which was rushed through with no referendum or consultation with opposition parties, allowed the government to expand Hungary's Constitutional Court, appoint Orbán loyalists, and consolidate the regime's domestic power.
With Viktor Orbán gone, will Hungary embrace free markets under Péter Magyar?
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