Hungary, a nation comprising approximately 1.1% of the European Union’s gross domestic product and 2% of its population, has significantly increased its political influence under Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Despite its small size, Orban’s leadership has resulted in a disproportionate level of political weight within the EU. A key element of this influence has been the strategic use of EU institutional mechanisms, particularly the power of veto, to shape European policy and exert pressure on the European Union’s capital, Brussels.
Orban has become a notable force disrupting established political dynamics within the EU. Currently, Orban holds the distinction of being the longest-serving leader within the European Union, having maintained power since 2010. During this period, he has established a political system he terms an “illiberal democracy.” His government has overseen a gradual shift towards a more centralized and powerful state within Hungary.
Multiple European institutions have assessed that Orban’s governments have contributed to a weakening of the rule of law, reduced the independence of the judiciary, and diminished the autonomy of the media landscape in Hungary.
