Hungarian Presidential Elections: Center Right vs. Ultranationalist Far-Right

Hungarians will vote Sunday for president in a contest that pits the incumbent far-right anti-migrant authoritarian seeking a fourth term against a grand coalition across the Hungarian political spectrum whose candidate is a conservative Catholic mayor. The ultranationalist current President, Viktor Orban, describes himself as “illiberal” and has compromised the independence of the judiciary and of academia and other institutions while keeping out refugees attempting to pass through Hungary. A darling of the Trumpist American far-right, Orban, like other “sovereignists,” has been disgraced by his support of Russian tyrant Vladimir Putin, the Hungarian President’s recent condemnation of Russian aggression against Ukraine and acceptance of Ukrainian refugees notwithstanding. Hungary is not allowing any direct transfers of military aid through to Ukraine through its territory. Sunday’s presidential election offers a great opportunity for a center-right candidate to vanquish a far-right candidate and restore Hungary’s liberty and representative governance and to reject the ultranationalist authoritarian model.