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PoliticsHungary

How Hungary's election weakens strongmen in Eastern Europe

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Melissa Chan
April 14, 2026

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is out, but the story doesn’t end there. Political scientist Jasmin Mujanovic explains how Hungary's election result may weaken illiberal power across Eastern Europe.

The Hungarian opposition's win against Viktor Orban  may not only pause the anti-democratic turn domestically. It will likely shore up fragile democracies across Eastern Europe. Slovakia, Bosnia, and Kosovo all stand to benefit, while increasingly autocratic, pro-Russian countries such as Serbia lose an ally. The European Union also stands to win. It's often sole spoiler on issues such as Ukrainian security might  be more willing to work with the other member states. 

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