Orbán 4.0 – How Fidesz secured an election victory and what it means for Hungary and Europe
To most, it did not come as a surprise when it was announced in the late evening hours of April 3rd that Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán once again prevailed in the parliamentary elections, winning his fourth consecutive term. His electoral victory will likely embolden Orban to stand his ground vis-a-vis the EU and further transform the country into a quasi-autocracy under his reign.
Fidesz’ continuous assault on the Hungarian LGBT+ Community and the recent Szájer affair
Hungary’s ruling Fidesz party has been long known for its tough stance on LGBTQI issues, its discrimination against same-sex couples and its ridiculous position on “traditional family values”. The recent Szájer affair further exposes the ruling party’s hypocrisy, as it continues waging a war against the LGBTQI community. If there is one thing for sure, it is that Fidesz never learns.
EU-Funding – A Key Area of Corruption in Hungary
While it is widely known corruption is a widespread problem in Hungary, the role of EU funds and the extent to which these funds are affected by corrupt practices often goes unnoticed. EU money from cohesion funds is frequently misappropriated, and the money, as well as public contracts, are often given to government allies as well as friends and family of prime minister Orbán. The EU needs to find new solutions to exert control over the projects financed by EU money and ensure that the money is not misappropriated and further enriches corrupt government officials and cronies.
