Marcel Fratzscher, President of the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW), believes that the political change in Hungary represents a defeat for right-wing populists across Europe. Speaking to the Handelsblatt, Fratzscher stated that the ousting of Viktor Orbán amounts to a “political judgment on an entire model”. He suggested that the system established by the long-serving Prime Minister, which relies on nationalism, corruption, and economic stagnation, has ultimately failed. According to Fratzscher, “Hungary shows that authoritarian populists are vulnerable when their record becomes visible”.
Following a decisive election victory for the pro-European Tisza Party, led by opposition leader Peter Magyar, Fratzscher underlined the implications for Germany. The downfall of Orbán serves as a warning signal for the AfD and other far-right parties in Europe. “Orbán was their role model-his fall exposes the emptiness of their promises”.
Furthermore, Fratzscher drew a direct connection to US politics. He characterized the Hungarian election outcome as a “significant setback” for the export of the so-called MAGA ideology to Europe. US President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance had heavily backed Orbán during the election campaign. In the view of the DIW chief, Trump, Orbán, and their allies share the same underlying logic: “Creating enemy images instead of solutions, and division instead of prosperity”.