Norway is leaving in order to stay

On the banks of the Danube, change rarely happens suddenly. It unfolds slowly, almost imperceptibly, until one day it becomes clear that the city—and the country—are already living in a different political reality.

Hungary appears to have entered a new political chapter. The defeat of Viktor Orban, the dominant figure in the country’s politics for more than a decade, would seem to signal a break with the past. Yet the first signals from his successor point to something more complex: a change of leader without a decisive shift in direction.

The Kremlin’s main ally in Europe, Hungary’s authoritarian leader Viktor Orbán, suffered a crushing defeat in the parliamentary elections on April 12. The opposition Tisza party, led by Péter Magyar, won 138 out of 199 seats. Magyar’s supporters not only secured victory, but also obtained a constitutional majority in parliament.

Parliamentary elections will be held in Hungary on April 12, which may bring an end to the long-standing rule of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.