The end of Viktor Orbán’s political cycle in Hungary marks more than a simple democratic alternation: it exposes deep weaknesses in the European project. After 16 years of governance marked by illiberal and Eurosceptic tendencies, the victory of a pro-European force opens a window of opportunity – but also forces the European Union to confront its own limitations.
A first inference is that the Rule of Law within the Union is not guaranteed. For years, Brussels hesitated in the face of institutional erosion in Hungary, reacting late through mechanisms such as freezing funds. This strategy proved to be effective only at the limit, when the damage was already well consolidated. The EU has shown itself to be more prepared to impose economic rules than to protect its founding values, which may raise doubts about its political coherence.
The second reflection concerns the role of the economy as an instrument of power. The Hungarian case demonstrates how access to European financing has become a decisive lever to induce reforms. However, this dependence creates an ambiguous relationship: on the one hand, it reinforces the Union’s ability to influence; on the other, it transforms European solidarity into conditional negotiation. At the same time, Hungary sought to balance between Brussels, Beijing and Moscow, highlighting how member states can use external relations to reinforce their room for maneuver.
Finally, the structural tension between national sovereignty and European integration remains. Orbán has consistently exploited this cleavage, blocking strategic decisions and asserting an alternative vision of Europe. His departure does not eliminate this conflict; it just makes it more visible. The Union remains undecided between deepening political integration or accepting a coexistence of divergent models.
This new “Magyar” cycle, post-Orbán, is therefore not a point of arrival, but a test. Europe will have to decide whether it wants to be an effective community of values or just a space of economic convenience. This choice will also depend on its relevance in an increasingly complex geopolitical world.
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