DEMOCRACY WATCHThe Election in Hungary Could Help Curb the Rightward Shift in Europe, a Researcher Believes
The opposition in Hungary has a good chance of winning the election on April 12, according to researchers. This could have major consequences, both for Hungarians and for the rest of Europe.
If there is a change of power in Hungary, Viktor Orbán could be removed after 16 years in power.
This could have major significance for Hungarians. But it could also have major consequences for the rest of Europe, where far-right parties are gaining strength in many countries, according to Professor Nick Sitter.
If Hungary chooses a more democratic government, it will send a signal that the rightward shift is not an inevitable trend, but something that can be reversed, he believes.
“It shows that it’s possible to push back against right-wing populism, even in its stronghold,” he says.
Orbán Tightened His Grip
Nick Sitter has a close connection to Hungary. He has personally experienced how Orbán has tightened his grip on civil society and academic freedom in the country.
In addition to being a professor of political economy at BI Norwegian Business School, he holds a part-time position as a professor of political science at the Central European University in Vienna.
When he started working there, the university was located in Budapest. When Orbán became prime minister for the second time in 2010, the university was gradually pushed out of the country.
Hungarian and American University
“When Orbán returned to power, it became clear that his ambitions went beyond political control. He sought control over businesses, civil society, and the rule of law. At first, it hit the rule of law and the media hard, then the business sector. It took a bit longer to take control of civil society,” says Sitter.
The Central European University was designed as both a Hungarian and an American university. Its profile was international and strongly focused on research on democracy.
The new Orbán government began to impose special requirements on the university. Among other things, they wanted to push back against liberal fields of study such as gender studies and critical research.
Was Almost Exiled
As long as Barack Obama was president of the United States, the American ambassador in Hungary managed to slow down Orbán’s pressure on the university.
“But when Donald Trump was elected president in 2016, many of us realized that it was over. He had no interest in protecting American academia,” says Sitter.
The Orbán government used an expedited procedure to pass a law that in practice made it impossible for the university to operate in Hungary.
The process lasted until 2020. Then the university moved most of its operations and nearly all teaching to Vienna.
“The university was almost exiled,” says Sitter.
