The great hopes of 1848, 1956, and 1989 for an independent and democratic Hungary have again been dashed since the fall of Communism. Current Hungarian Leader Viktor Orban, in power since 2010, has described his policies as 'illiberal democracy'!
The (Far) Right first appeared as a fully blown Fascist Party under Czurka. It didn't achieve a breakthrough. Next comes Jobbik, another Fascist Party, which since 2020 has attempted to rebrand itself as Centre Right in order to obtain a larger voting base. Orban's own Party, Fidesz, has also been categorised as Right Wing Populist and Authoritarian. Somehow Orban has maintained Hungary's membership of The EU, of Nato, whilst being on good terms with Putin.
There remain too, naturally, parties of The Left and Marxist Left but they continue to attract only small support.
Yet despite the tendency in the 20th and 21st centuries for Hungary to veer politically to the extremes, the spirit of 1848 and1956 gives ground for hope.
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