Europe will be watching the Hungarian elections on 3 April. This Sunday, Hungarians will head to the polls to elect a new parliament. The outcome will be crucial for all of Europe. So, after discussing recently why Europe should care, Debating Europe is going to take a closer look at what to expect.
Young European citizens sent us their questions and we got them answered. Click on the video for the responses from MEP Gwendoline Delbos-Corfield, rapporteur for the European Parliament on the rule of law in Hungary, and Hungarian economist and former European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion László Andor, who frequently contributes to the debate around Europe’s position on Hungary’s “illiberal democracy”, as promoted by incumbent prime minister Viktor Orbán.
We discuss Hungarian’s media freedom and rule of law situation, and look forward to after the elections, regarding Hungary’s relationship with NATO and the consequences of a widespread disinformation campaign by office-holder Orbán.
What do YOU think? Do you think opposition-leader Péter Márky-Zay will win? Would he turn the country’s policies upside down? Or do you trust the latest election forecast, seeing Orbán is cruising towards another term in office? What might that mean for Hungary and the European Union? Put your thoughts and questions in the comment form below and we will take them to experts and practitioners, making your voice heard!
IMAGE CREDITS: Gabinho CC BY-SA 4.0
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Hopefully. However Hungarians might have lived in a hybrid disinformation for over a decade, so I wouldn’t be surprised if Putin’s bro Orban is once again elected (hopefully not).
Stay strong Hungary !
Don’t be mainstream, be yourself.
“mainstream”? Lol lovely way to call madness 😅
I hope not.
Democracy is about serving the people not serving the US president Biden. Hungarians have made their choice, Viktor Orban reelected .
I don’t care so much about their ultra-conservative values as I don’t live there, it’s a fight for Hungarians. The real risk is Orban’s muzzling the press and preventing political opposition. This is what Putin did and under no circumstances should we let Orban get away with that.
We should care! Ukraine will become a EU member state, and Viktor Orban, the dictator, declare friendship with Putin, the dictator killer from Kremlin!
That’s very dramatic and serious! And he has no plans to follow EU rules and restrictions against Russia!
EU does not necessarily need Hungary, but Hungary needs EU!
EU makes the rules in Europe, not Hungary!! They should get an ultimatum: with EU or Russia!
yes yes we should be careful that Orban respects the rule of law and the freedom of the press. That matters a lot to sustain democratic values. But I care less if they wish to prioritise family values and those other wild Christian ideas. That’s their prerogative.
I am pro spirituality!
spirituality? That can mean many things. But sure. I’m not too fond of institutionalised spirituality, and in the case of Hungary, instrumentalised spirituality. But I have nothing against spirituality 🙂
Spirituality is the true connection with Divinity. No everyone can understand it!
Hungarian is not following EUs rules! Why should EU still have them as member state? No state can be a member of EU and in the same time friends with Russia at this moment and in these circumstances!
All the misary is coming from a lot of red flags shown for a long period of time from Russia and Europe didn’t take a stand for it!
Now it happens also with Hungary! EU does not necessarily need Hungary, Hungary needs EU 🇪🇺!
So they should go by the rules!
I think they should get an ultimatum: EU member states needs to be democratic, not proving that they hand for dictature and radicalization, even to support a dictator killer like Putin who starts a criminal war against another future member state of EU and puts us all in nuclear war danger!
I am sorry I have to write this, but NATO and EU should give an ultimatum to Hungary: with EU or with Russia! It is not accepted compromises!
Don’t be soft with them, otherwise they will consider that they can do whatever they want now and in the future, and then it will be regretfull afterwards!
People have elected this government. Democracy is about people’ power. EU has to work with this government.
You lost your democracy!! 🥴 🥴 Fight for it!
fight for what? (voted) majority have elected the government. when vocal and/or violent minority start dictating the terms then it is no longer democracy.
Than you don’t know what democracy means…
It is only the people of Hungary who can have their say on the way Hungarian democracy should be constructed. Europe’s mainstream is equal to US proxy and populism. This is not democracy.
EU is dark red comunism in action.
I amvery happhy of this reelection and happy that he brings to the socialist EU a conservative wind
Viktor Orban is a dictator, not a leader with conservative visions! He is a friend with Putin!
– Is he not ashame of himself to support a dictator killer against another European country, future member state of EU?!
Viktor Orban has no plans to follow the EU rules and energy embargo imposed against Russia! And you call him democratic with conservative opinions… 😩😩
victor orban has been elected and his people is not willing to follow the social liberal LGBT american policy of EU. And i do agree with him on this point
Than get out of EU and NATO!! So simple it is!!
No state is obligated to stay in these organisations, if they don’t agree with their rules and views!
i would like that France quit Nato to stop playing silly american games
Americans had brought freedom, democracy and prosperity to Europe! I don’t believe all the misinformations about them!
american are provoking desorders everywhere they want to keep China and Europe weak to keep their supremacy
His vision work very well with Putin’s vision….
Unfortunately! EU and NATO should not tolerate his atitudine!