Why Hungary’s opposition failed

Viktor Orbán has now spent a total of 16 years as Hungary’s Prime Minister but he has not lost his hunger for power. Energetically campaigning across the country, exploiting every advantage of incumbency, and excoriating the incompetent opposition, on Sunday he notched up his fourth landslide victory in a row. Crucially, he maintains the two-thirds majority in parliament that he has held since 2010, allowing him him to amend the constitution whenever he chooses.

Predictably, the opposition challenged the legitimacy of the election process even before the votes had been counted. They note that the lion’s share of the media supports Orbán. But this is an excuse, not an explanation. It was not just the medium but the message that gave Orbán victory.

Orbán’s skilful handling of the Ukraine crisis obviously mattered. While the opposition assumed that he would be embarrassed by his friendship with Vladimir Putin, most voters seemed to value his experience, pragmatism and narrow focus on Hungary’s self-interest.