Lessons in democracy

Dear reader,

On Sundays, Bern is a sleepy city. This made the several hundred people who turned out to vote all the more noticeable – they were the Hungarian diaspora in Switzerland taking part in this significant election.

It is not often that elections in a small country attract so much international attention. This is primarily due to the pioneering nature of the “illiberal democracy” that Viktor Orbán has built up over the last 16 years, which has served as a beacon for right-wing populists. This even included the simulation of direct democracy. My colleague Domhnall O’Sullivan has described here how Orbán used direct-democratic instruments for this purpose.

What is even rarer is that both Moscow and Washington are disappointed by the election result: Hungary has long been regarded as Russia’s Trojan horse within the European Union. The US government, for its part, actively campaigned on behalf of Viktor Orbán, as it views his system as a model. This is another reason why analysts interpret Orbán’s defeat as a setback for right-wing populists and authoritarian regimes worldwide.

It also seems certain that the EU will emerge stronger from this election. Hungary has so far reliably blocked decisions within the Union, particularly regarding Ukraine and Russia.

But on a symbolic level, something else is just as important.

The Orbán system has shown how democracy can be dismantled using its own mechanisms. And how such an approach can serve as a blueprint for ideological allies worldwide.

However, the outcome of the Hungarian elections makes clear that even in a weakened democracy, a political shift can take place. This is an important lesson, particularly given the erosion of democratic systems observed in recent years.

For me, the image of the diaspora voting in Bern was also highly symbolic: by casting their votes abroad, Hungarian citizens participated from afar. This commitment to the democratic process should never be taken for granted.

What is the situation in your country in this regard? As always, you can write to me directly at [e-mail]

Best regards,

Giannis Mavris

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