Zsolt Enyedi on the Hungarian Election

From Democracy in Question? by Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy

April 22, 2026 · 50 min · Season 11 · Episode 8

About this episode

The episode discusses the 2026 Hungarian elections and the factors leading to the end of Viktor Orbán's rule.

In this episode of Democracy in Question, host Shalini Randeria speaks with political scientist Zsolt Enyedi about the landmark 2026 Hungarian elections, which ended Viktor Orbán’s 16-year rule. The conversation explores how a deeply entrenched “soft authoritarian” system, characterized by media capture, institutional control, and an uneven electoral playing field, was ultimately overturned through democratic means. Despite Orbán’s dominance over state resources, the opposition party Tisza, led by former insider Péter Magyar, secured a two-thirds parliamentary majority. Enyedi argues that the regime’s fall was driven by a combination of economic stagnation, political fatigue, moral scandals, and the unification of a previously fragmented opposition. Crucially, Hungary’s position within the European Union limited the regime’s ability to escalate into full autocracy, preserving enough democratic space for electoral change. Finally, the discussion turns to the broader implications for Europe and beyond. Orbán had long served as a model for illiberal, right-wing populist movements. His defeat raises questions about the durability of such regimes, and whether Hungary could become a…

People in this episode

Host: Shalini Randeria

Guest: Zsolt Enyedi

Topics covered

Hungarian elections
democratic recovery
authoritarianism
political opposition
European Union

Keywords

Hungary
Viktor Orbán
Zsolt Enyedi
democracy
political opposition
European Union
elections
authoritarianism

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Tisza

Places: Hungary, European Union