This article explores the striking similarities between the political trajectories of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and former U.S. President Donald Trump. Both leaders, operating within distinct political systems, have implemented strategies to consolidate power, manipulate institutions, and suppress dissent, raising concerns about the erosion of democratic values.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán 's rise to power presents a stark comparison with former U.S. President Donald Trump 's approach to governance. Though their political systems and contexts differ, both Orbán and Trump share a striking pattern of consolidating authority, manipulating institutions, and suppressing dissent. Orbán, who first became prime minister in 1998, experienced a setback in 2002 but vowed never to lose again.
He meticulously crafted a strategy to transform Hungary into a system where his Fidesz party held absolute control. During his time out of power, Orbán and his allies established a legal framework designed to centralize power. This framework was swiftly implemented when Fidesz won a two-thirds majority in parliament in 2010. One of Orbán's first moves was to rewrite Hungary's constitution and overhaul election laws, ensuring his party's dominance in the legislature. This, combined with a system where parties, not voters, select candidates for parliament, gave Orbán immense power in shaping the government. He exerted this power by implementing a series of measures aimed at controlling the judiciary. Orbán's government lowered the mandatory judicial retirement age, leading to the dismissal of nearly 300 senior judges. The responsibility for appointing replacements was vested in a single political appointee, the spouse of a Fidesz founder, effectively placing the judiciary under the control of the ruling party. While Trump and Republicans, unable to unilaterally alter the face of the judiciary, shared parallels with Orbán's approach. Republicans have long sought a conservative judiciary, and Trump prioritized this during his presidency. He appointed three justices to the U.S. Supreme Court, giving conservatives a supermajority that has profoundly shaped the legal landscape. Both Orbán and Trump also exhibit a shared tendency to cultivate relationships with autocratic leaders like Russian President Vladimir Putin. Orbán, recognizing the constraints of Western democracy, has drawn inspiration from autocratic models. This shift towards autocratic systems has raised concerns about the erosion of democratic norms and institutions in both Hungary and the United States
Viktor Orbán Donald Trump Autocracy Hungary United States Democracy Judicial System Elections Russia
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