The Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies | February 18, 2019
The political changes of the past decade in Hungary have resulted in the establishment of a hybrid political system in which the degree of power concentration is exceptional, at least in European terms. Orbán and his party not only keep a firm grip on the legislative and executive branches, but also dominate virtually all spheres of social life, including commerce, education, the arts, churches, and even sports. The regime’s ‘hybridness’ reflects the uneven development of nondemocratic practices across various sectors of society. Certain subsystems – the courts, for instance – still operate with a large degree of independence, though the executive has been putting them under growing pressure. Other institutions, such as the prosecutors’ offices and the state media, function as ruling-party outposts. The foundations of the current Orbán regime go back to the period just after Fidesz’s 2010 electoral landslide, and were consolidated when the parliament adopted a new constitution that came into effect on the first day of 2012. Still, the 2018 election was widely seen as a crucial test. And this election brought another landslide victory for Fidesz. How was this possible and what are the consequences for Hungary and Europe? What are the specificities of the Orbán regime? What is Orbán’s strategy for the EP elections? This presentation aims to respond to these questions.SHOW LESS
