"Orbán encourages rich allies to buy big media companies and hobble independent journalism, replacing it with lies about immigrants, the economy, and enemies. He does this openly and proudly, prompting other aspiring autocrats to emulate him."
"Despite independent polls indicating his vulnerability, many Hungarians found it hard to believe Orbán would be ousted. Autocrats often seem inevitable, yet he lost to Péter Magyar by a significant margin."
"Orbán's downfall contains warnings for MAGA and Trump: propaganda has its limits, and real concerns about affordability resonate with the populace. True democracy can reassert itself in a single election."
Viktor Orbán, the prime minister of Hungary, has undermined democratic institutions and promoted false narratives. Despite his efforts, he lost the recent election to opposition leader Péter Magyar, who focused on economic issues. Orbán's loss serves as a warning to other autocrats, including Donald Trump, about the limits of propaganda and the importance of addressing real concerns. The election results indicate that democracy can triumph even in challenging circumstances, as seen by the celebrations in Hungary following Orbán's concession.
Read at The Atlantic
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