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My Liberties colleagues on the ground in Budapest reported scenes of jubilation on Sunday night as ousted Prime Minister Viktor Orbán conceded to political newcomer Péter Magyar in a crushing defeat. Across the city the streets were filled with people singing and chanting, while cars driving by honked their car horns and fireworks lit up the sky. The parliamentary victory marks the end of Orbán's 16-year reign, which saw the rule of law torn to shreds, souring relations with the EU, and a revival of conservative values.
It's clear that ordinary Hungarians have had enough. Magyar, a former Fidesz insider, led his Tisza party to a landslide victory, telling his supporters, "I will be the fiercest protector of human rights..." Tisza looks to secure a staggering 136 seats to Fidesz's 57. This puts a Tisza government in the driver's seat to deliver on its campaign promise of 'system change' by rooting out corruption and repairing relations with the EU and Ukraine. The election also marked a record 79.5% turnout, with the Hungarian diaspora returning their droves to cast their vote at the ballot box.
The election results are a much-needed source of hope across Europe and the U.S., where Orbán's brand of 'illiberal democracy' has inspired copycats. The four countries alongside Hungary labelled 'Dismantlers' in the Liberties Rule of Law Report 2026 - Bulgaria, Croatia, Italy, and Slovakia - have all taken leaves from Orbán's authoritarian playbook.
But those expecting miracles overnight will be disappointed. Fidesz has its claws deep Hungary's key institutions and, as reported by our Polish member, restoring the rule of law afters years of rot is met with challenges at every turn. Magyar, a moderate conservative, is also unlikely to steer Hungary in liberal direction.
Still, here at the Liberties offices, we are celebrating a much-needed win for democracy. In other good news, as of 1 March 2026, Ilina Neshikj has officially begun her tenure as Executive Director of Liberties, following an open selection process conducted by the Board.
Best,
Eleanor & the Liberties Team
In Focus
2026 Hungarian Elections and AI: ChatGPT will not tell you to vote for Orbán's contender, but will give you very confident advice
OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's Gemini do not provide reliable political guidance on the 2026 Hungarian elections, our latest research finds. Learn more.
How Political Advertising Is Adapting Ahead of Hungary's 2026 Elections
As Hungary's parliamentary elections draw near, new EU transparency laws (TPPA) are backfiring. Instead of cleaner digital campaigns, online political advertising has become harder to track, less transparent and unregulated. Learn more.
Latest DSA Risk Assessment Reports are 'Copy & Paste ' Of Weak Democratic Safeguards on Big Tech
Comparing the newest set of reports to previous editions, we cannot find any relevant progress - platforms continue to ignore systemic risk, lack transparency and maintain a restrictive not in of civil discourse. Learn more.
Response to the Call for Evidence for the Digital Fitness Check
Liberties has responded to the EU’s call for evidence for the Digital Fairness Fitness Check in order to urge policymakers not to undermine fundamental rights protections in a misguided attempt to help businesses. Learn more.
Rule of Law Report 2026
This year's Rule of Law report was our most impactful so far. The report generated coverage of over 250 articles in 41 countries, including a precedent-setting four-part series based on the report by The Guardian highlighting trends across Germany, Italy, Hungary, and Poland.
Deepening Rule of Law Crisis in the EU Exposes Shortcomings of Commission Action. Read more here.
When the Standard Bearer Starts to Slide: Liberties Rule of Law Report 2026. Read more here.
In the News
Five EU countries 'deliberately eroding' rule of law, report shows - France24
As the EU loses interest, the rule-of-law unravels - EUObserver
Fünf EU-Staaten bauen laut Berichten systematisch den Rechtstaat ab - Spiegel
Trend Analysis
- Civic Space and Protest Rights under Threat in 2025
- Justice on Pause: Europe's courts wait for reforms that never arrive
- Standing Still: EU Anti-Corruption Efforts Stall in 2025
Member's Corner
- Guidelines for Grant Applications: CERV STRIVE 2026. Details.
- Coming Home to Defend Democracy I Meet Our Members
Meet Peter Čuroš, a senior lawyer at VIA IURIS in Slovakia. After working in Scandinavia, he returned to his home country to defend the rule of law and civil society amid growing political concerns. Read the full interview here.
What We Read
If Orbán Loses Hungary's Election, It Will Dispel the Air of Invincibility Around Strongmen
Orbán's Spying Kit Revealed: Israeli Surveillance Tool Combined with Hungarian Technology
Euroskeptic think tanks on the rise as Brussels slashes funding for pro-EU groups
Long-term imprisonments, rapprochement with the EU, and relations with Iran
Coming Up
Stay tuned for the Liberties Media Freedom Report, which will go out into the world on 27th April. Check out last year’s report for a taster.
