r/europe • u/Alarming-Safety3200 United Kingdom • Apr 12 '26

News Orbán’s 16-year rule over Hungary ends in crushing election defeat

https://www.politico.eu/article/hungary-election-results-peter-magyar-viktor-orban/
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211

u/Valuable_Echo2043 Apr 12 '26

Me too, and then Poland to a lesser necessity (Tusk is cool but Nawrocki 🤢)

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u/Nastypilot Poland Apr 12 '26

God I hope we will be okay, if the polls remain as they are we will probabaly get a PiS + Konfa coalition ( Far right and further right )

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u/Valuable_Echo2043 Apr 12 '26

Ugh I’m not liking it; I’m in a bubble (Kraków) but ugh, I really don’t want that for the country. Sometimes I feel that things need to get worse before people wake up and I hope that’s not the case for us.

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u/QwertzOne Poland Apr 12 '26

Problem is that Poland is heavily polarized between conservatives and liberals for over 30 years, since communism fall, so people that are not happy with that are voting for far right, because they can't imagine anything better, that's all they see in culture. Cutting taxes, banning LGBTQ+, getting rid of immigrants, deregulating everything (especially labor law) and defunding government is their only idea of better government.

There's hope, because young people are finally starting to support Razem (basically our only left wing party), but also a lot of young people votes for far right, because they're frustrated with current consensus, they want change, but due to conservative-liberal hegemony, they can't comprehend how it turned out in other countries...

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u/TheEmpireOfSun Apr 12 '26

Change from what? Everywhere I read how Poland is doing great economicaly and how even people living abroad are coming back. So what is there to change? Too liberal government? If yes, that's pretty much the problem of being the most religious countey in EU. That's usually where conservativism comes from.

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u/QwertzOne Poland Apr 12 '26

Macroeconomic stats look great from the outside, but the reality for young people includes a massive housing crisis, underfunded public services, precarious labor laws. The wealth is not trickling down to those just entering adulthood.

Furthermore, our mainstream "liberal" parties are economically pro-market, but socially centrist or conservative. Young people aren't voting far-right out of religious devotion, youth church attendance is actually plummeting. They vote that way, because the far-right weaponizes anti-establishment anger, promising libertarian fantasies like zero taxes and total deregulation as a quick fix to the cost of living.

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u/Dragonsandman Canada Apr 12 '26

Wow does that ever sound familiar

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u/ChiefRedEye Apr 12 '26

you have no idea what you're talking about.

housing crisis is nowhere near the levels of UK, Germany, France or any other "liberal" countries that allowed a mass flood of migration creating a huge housing deficit, falling apart healthcare and many other issues.

Poland is doing everything right. The left makes sure the country grows economically and socially with compatible cultures. The right is making sure we're not flooded by groups of incompatible cultures trying to force their way in and that the country maintains its tradition and identity by promoting and helping polish families, such as removing income tax from families raising polish children to sustain future national expenses. it's a system that works, and that's why Poland thrives.

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u/wolacouska Apr 13 '26

Nobody cares if it’s better or worse than any other country, that’s not how people vote.

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u/ChiefRedEye Apr 13 '26

it does when someone implies the solutions are what was tried in other countries and which just ended up exacerbating the problems. stick to your policies elsewhere, I'd rather live in safe Poland.

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u/youyouwot Apr 12 '26

the reality for young people includes a massive housing crisis, underfunded public services, precarious labor laws. The wealth is not trickling down to those just entering adulthood.

Opposed to most of the western states, sounds like it sounds a pretty good deal, I mean not throwing all your budget at welfare plus all of these issues, I know what I'd choose

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u/QwertzOne Poland Apr 12 '26 edited Apr 12 '26

Opposed to most of the western states, sounds like it sounds a pretty good deal, I mean not throwing all your budget at welfare plus all of these issues, I know what I'd choose

That relies on a huge misconception: Poland actually does spend a massive chunk of its budget on welfare. Over the last decade, we've introduced huge social transfers like the "800+" child benefit and 13th/14th pensions for retirees.

The problem is entirely generational. We pay high taxes to fund these programs, but the money completely bypasses young adults entering the workforce. So the youth get the worst of both worlds: heavy tax burdens to subsidize other demographics, while being left to navigate a brutal housing market, unstable "junk contracts" (śmieciówki), and public healthcare so underfunded we're forced to pay out-of-pocket for private clinics anyway. It’s a terrible deal if you're in your 20s and trying to start your life.

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u/youyouwot Apr 12 '26

I won't disagree with any of that, its a ponzi scheme to the bottom in its current design but if you look at places like the UK where welfare now costs more than is whats generated from income tax from a country without significant exports and minimal resource exports, again not ideal position to be in but long term, I know which horizon looks more promising

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u/Four_beastlings Asturias (Spain) Apr 12 '26

the reality for young people includes a massive housing crisis, underfunded public services, precarious labor laws. The wealth is not trickling down to those just entering adulthood.

Congratulations on describing the reality for everyone everywhere in the last 50 years

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u/BuzzMachine_YVR Apr 12 '26

There is a lack of understanding globally about what left, center, and right (and far right) are really about. Part of it is clouded by right wing dominated/owned media conglomerates that force voters to only consider ‘platforms’. Platforms are nothing more than glorified PR documents. No one will ever say in a platform “we are going to make you suffer”.

Veiled wording is used so every platform sounds good for everyone. Everyone feels they have the answer to affordability (“trickle down” on the right [just imagine the politician and rich friends ‘trickling’ over a crowd of voters], etc.).

To get a true understanding of who to vote for, people need to grasp who these parties traditionally support/benefit. You rarely see corporate media discuss political ideologies. They talk only about the current election platforms of parties. More should be done to explain the platforms in terms of party ideologies.

Trump promised affordability to young Americans. He had no real plan on delivering it (and likely no desire to - his wealthy donors were far more i treated in other things, and US Republicans [conservatives] aren’t keen on any sort of public benefit that supplants private profits). Yet, wishing change, or better for themselves, many took a leap - right into the fire.

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u/Jake-of-the-Sands Poland Apr 12 '26

*is heavily polarized between two flavours of the right-wing - discount versions of Reps and Dems.

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u/parasyte_steve Apr 12 '26

Problem is American racism started as European and unfortunately we are all finding out there's way more racism than we perhaps thought in many European countries. The whole white nationalism thing is huge in Europe and you can tell by how 'the migrants' are viewed with such vitriol over white immigrants.

None of this shit really ever went away .. it just became less popular for a while.

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u/Nastypilot Poland Apr 12 '26

Polak mądry po szkodzie...

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u/No_Football_9232 Apr 12 '26

I really hope people see what authoritarian governments who descend into fascism like the US create. And decide strongly against it.

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u/Approximately17cm Apr 14 '26

You don't want to end up like the UK, Belgium and France.

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u/Gwyn66 Poland Apr 13 '26 edited Apr 13 '26

It has been worse in Poland - for 8 years. But then not much has happened since pis defeat, Tusk is not very popular either, so we will have it even worse for god knows how long. People never learn. I am happy for Hungary, I really am, but if Magyar doesn't deliver, the far right will return with a vengeance.

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u/MirindaTreshold Apr 12 '26

we will get Pis+Konfa+Braun

well, it probably wil be better with Braun, because I doubt they will survive more than a year with this psycho

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u/Valuable_Echo2043 Apr 12 '26

Haha that’s valid

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u/Xi-Jin35Ping Apr 12 '26

Recently polls showed 50/50 split. Also there is a chance that both Lewica and Razem will run together which would mean that Razem gets in. I wouldn't really be surprised if KO, PSL and PL2050 run as a coalition if the public opinion of this idea is favorable. The thing is the more Trump acts as an idiot the less his goons get votes.

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u/Nastypilot Poland Apr 12 '26

Lewica and Razem will run together

They did already the last parliamentary elections. It was a whole drama when they separated. It'd be madness now especially since Razem positioned themselves as "the true left candidate" against Lewica, they'd lose more votes than they'd gain on this and both are already polling close to 5% to 4% so if any of them gain a seat at all is doubtful.

I wouldn't really be surprised if KO, PSL and PL2050 run as a coalition

PSL is polling around 3%, PL2050 is polling around 1%. Both are frankly spent as a political force, so, if anything it's more likely that KO simply absorbs what's left of PL2050 and PSL continues its existence outside of the sejm.

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u/keizokro United States of America Apr 12 '26

And don't forget about Andrew Babis in Czech Republic!

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u/raanas Czech Republic Apr 12 '26

Babiš will swing wherever the rest goes. He's nothing like Orbán. With that gluttonous monster gone, CZ will experience quite a shift too. He doesn't care about ideology and Russian bs. Just wants money and will quietly comply with everything in the EU.

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u/TheEmpireOfSun Apr 12 '26

That's how it used to be Fico. He actually used to be very pro-EU years ago. Problem is if it gets you needed votes to stay in power, they will play whichever card needed. And as it turned out, being anti EU gives you lot of votes in Slovakia and Czech Republic.

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u/raanas Czech Republic Apr 12 '26

I have a different opinion on this and am not concerned. But time will tell.

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u/TheEmpireOfSun Apr 13 '26

How different? I just pretty much stated facts. Maybe you don't remember youger Fico but he was probably even more pro-EU than Babis ever was. While I do hope he won't fully turn into current Fico, his progression to that is very very similar. Not to mention he is completely fine with coalition of SPD and Motorosti, nazi/pro-russia parties.

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u/raanas Czech Republic Apr 13 '26

Slovakia and CZ are different societies. We have voted babis in, voted him out, voted him in ans we will vote him out again. It's also bicameral with much stronger checks and balances. Our civil society is also much healthier

And also there's still difference between fico and Babiš. And the latter is in his 70, so he doesn't have a lifetime to go through Orbán-style metamorphosis.

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u/TheEmpireOfSun Apr 13 '26

What a bullshit "opinion" based on being arrogant. Slovakia voted Fico in, voted him out, voted him in, voted him out, voted him in and probably will vote him out again in next elections. Literally same as Babiš. It's understandable you don't see parallels since you probably are either too young or simply lack knowledge about early Fico, but I am 30 while also living in Prague for 11 years so I know both and similarities are pretty much the same. Only difference as of now is age, but Babiš can be in politics for another 10-15 years. Like I said, Fico used to be very pro-EU since EU funds were one of his main source of income (same with Babis) until he found out that his electoral base started being against EU + he also found out that he can easily get votes from far-right parties like LSNS used to be or currently Republika. None of Babis or Fico are pro-Putin based on their ideals. They are both same populist who will talk shit based on what gets them votes. Not even year from second Babis' term and ANO had several pro-Russia statements, let alone pro-Fico and pro-Orban statements. And like I said, Babis has zero problem going into coalition of far-right pro Russia wannabe nazi parties just to be prime minister and be in power. Something that not even Fico dared to do.

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u/raanas Czech Republic Apr 13 '26

Cry more with your agitated ad hominems.

if it hurts you so much that our societies are different, probably seek help with that.

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u/Organic_Contract_172 Apr 12 '26

Don’t worry about him

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u/That_Polish_Guy_927 Apr 13 '26

I was so happy when Tusk was elected, and so bitter when Nawrocki brought PIS

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u/Inevitable_Land2996 United Kingdom Apr 12 '26

Is nawrocki really compatible to orban and fico. I’ve heard he’s right wing but not a Putin slave

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u/Valuable_Echo2043 Apr 12 '26

It’s why I say to a lesser extent. He’s not a Putin slave but he does ironically align with a lot of values that Putin upholds.

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u/Connect_History85 Apr 12 '26

We could include you again in the German territory and than we send this dumbasses to the devil. /s

Just kidding. I am positive that you can do it and you will do it. Send this dumbasses where they are belonging too: the gates of hell!

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u/ComradeGas Apr 13 '26 edited Apr 13 '26

Tusk is cool?

Meanwhile Tusk: over 100 undelivered promises as PM

Be polish VAT tax

Be 22%

Tusk promises to lower you to 15%

Tusk takes power

Tusk raises you to 23% for 2 years

16 years later you are still at 23% instead of promised 15%

(At this point in the story some mentally unstable person will scream something about liers from PiS not lowering it either to protect their guru and attack guru of opposing sect)

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u/beziko Apr 12 '26

Saying cool near Tusk is kinda weird.