‘Orbanization’? How To Capture A Democracy

Last month, Hungary’s Viktor Orban won a fourth term in office as Prime Minister. A recently released European Union (EU) report raises concerns about democracy in Hungary under his rule, pointing to the rise of a hybrid regime of electoral autocracy. This article by Paul Lendvai is published by Democracy Digest. Here is an excerpt:

Following the re-election of Hungary’s Viktor Orban for a fourth consecutive term as prime minister last month, the European Parliament released a draft report characterizing Hungary as a ‘hybrid regime of electoral autocracy’. While not labelling Orban a fully fledged autocrat, the report asserts that his administration’s abuses of power are sufficient to disqualify Hungary as a democracy, despite its holding ostensibly democratic elections, The Strategist’s Joshua Dunne, Jasmine Latimore, Stephan Robin and Ben Stevens report:

Experts concur that Orban has triggered a decade of ‘severe democratic backsliding’ in Hungary. The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, which tracks global democratic trends, says Hungary has experienced steep declines in electoral legitimacy, judicial independence and media integrity since Orban’s 2010 election. This ‘backsliding’ is particularly troubling in the context of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. As a member of the European Union, Hungary can unilaterally vote down petroleum sanctions critical to Europe’s response to Russian aggression.

Should Orban further consolidate himself as an immovable pro-Putin autocrat in the EU’s ranks, Russia will profit from the internal obstacles impeding comprehensive EU sanctions, they add.

Read the full article here.