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The Curtain Falls for Hungary’s Orbán
April 14, 2026
Posted 5 hours ago by
The Curtain Falls for Hungary’s Orbán acabral-sanche Tue, 04/14/2026 - 14:30 SVG Commentary Apr 14, 2026 Wall Steet Journal The Curtain Falls for Hungary’s Orbán Walter Russell Mead Ravenel B. Curry III Distinguished Fellow in Strategy and Statesmanship Walter Russell Mead Commentary Caption Viktor Orbán speaks to the media after he cast his ballot in the Hungarian parliamentary elections on April 12, 2026, in Budapest, Hungary.
(Getty Images) Toggle Table of Contents Contents Contents Share to Twitter Twitter Share to Facebook Facebook Share to LinkedIn LinkedIn Share to E-mail E-mail Print Print Hungarian politics don’t usually matter much to the outside world, but the landslide election victory of Péter Magyar’s Tisza party is different. Vladimir Putin and Steve Bannon are plunged into gloom. Ursula von der Leyen and Volodymyr Zelensky have a spring in their step as one of the most remarkable political careers of the 21st century comes to what looks like its end. Like him or loathe him, Viktor Orbán was one of a handful of leaders who consistently punched above his weight. With a population of about 9.5 million and an underperforming economy, Hungary isn’t one of the earth’s movers and shakers. That Mr. Orbán emerged from Budapest to become a hero to a generation of emerging MAGA activists in the U.S. and a significant player in European power politics testifies to the talent of the man Hungarian voters have just unceremoniously dumped. Read the full article in the Wall Street Journal. Enjoyed this analysis? Subscribe to Hudson’s newsletters to stay up to date with our latest content. Email See more subscription options Politics and Government
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