Hungary's Viktor Orbán Concedes Defeat in Election

https://www.wsj.com/world/europe/hungary-election-results-orban-b2dbd42a

53•JumpCrisscross•2h ago

Comments

iammjm•1h ago

Big win for democracy. Not even 16 years of Orban and russian-, trumpian-, and technofascist interference could kill it. quite amazing actually

harladsinsteden•1h ago

It almost makes you think there is still some good left in the world.

stefs•1h ago

yes - i am so relieved. this was a real conundrum for the EU - booting hungary out would have been a huge problem (i.e. opening the door for a russian stronghold right in its mid), but keeping orban in would mean the a) abuse continued and b) it would send a signal to others that this is a winning strategy.

democracy may suffer from the problem that it allows the election of anti-democratic autocrats but it seems that it's definitely able to come back from the brink, even if the deck's stacked against it. i wonder what message it sends to the other countries.

kakacik•1h ago

Certainly an excellent news. What puzzles me that he managed to stay in power for 4 periods, despite behaving very consistently - subverting EU, de facto being russian spy, stealing EU dotations, led Hungary to stagnation. Yet people kept voting him in.

Exactly same story as just north from it, Fico in Slovakia is a tragedy for that nation and he keeps winning the votes.

So great news, for now.

biesnecker•1h ago

Good riddance.

pessimizer•1h ago

Not much of a dictatorship if the dictator concedes defeat after an election that was possible for him to lose.

EGreg•1h ago

True, it's not so much a dictatorship, more like just a certain type of mindset. Shared by Trump, Vance (I guess), Elon, and the AfD party, Le Pen (maybe) and more.

What do we call this mindset? Right wing authoritarianism? Anti-immigrant sentiment? Poland next door to Hungary is also very anti-immigrant and proud of it (everyone from Duda onwards).

matusp•1h ago

Illiberal democracy

oulipo2•1h ago

Good news, now let's rid the rest of Europe and the world of fascists and authoritarians

shevy-java•1h ago

The results were quite clear. About 2/3 voted someone else, roughly. I think this was also the primary reason why Orban congratulated quickly.

kolinko•1h ago

"ally of President Trump" -- more like an ally of Putin?

highpost•1h ago

you can be both.

kakacik•1h ago

Both. Both are allies too. Are you not watching the news for past decade?

Also, DJ vance was lobbing for him righr before elections in some local gatherings during his visot few days ago. So much for not interfering.

layer8•1h ago

One doesn’t exclude the other.

cantalopes•1h ago

Hell yes

ChrisArchitect•1h ago

Earlier: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47743553

jauntywundrkind•1h ago

Also a right wing former insider of the regime, but one that seemingly is turning has back on the regime authoritarianism & exploitation that has characterized the right's ascent worldwide. At least has shown some backbone, respect, decency, & is tired of the world burners, that believe in their vicious nasty strongmen, who seem intent only on grifting, tearing things down, and inflaming tensions.

Amazingly frank talk from Peter: https://telex.hu/belfold/2024/02/10/magyar-peter-varga-judit...

I really appreciate this comedic take from Bluesky:

> analogy for the America brained is like if the Dems lost to Trump four times in a row and then ran Mitt Romney to save the country and won crazy supermajorities and also Mitt Romney was named Johnny America https://bsky.app/profile/michaelcaley.bsky.social/post/3mjd2...

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