AI Summary
5 min readHungary's opposition wins a landslide, Britain drowns in milk, and a hero rat gets a statue
Last night, jubilation on the streets of Budapest. Viktor Orbán, whose corrupt and increasingly autocratic Fidesz party had ruled Hungary for sixteen years, conceded defeat. "The result is painful for us, but clear," he said. The opposition Tisza Party, under charismatic leader Péter Magyar, won a thumping majority—54% to 38%, which under Hungary's gerrymandered system translates to a potential two-thirds parliamentary majority. Turnout hit 77%, the highest since the end of communism. "The city of Budapest feels like a weight has been lifted off of it," said The Economist's Europe editor, Matt Steinglass, reporting from the capital.
What ousted Orbán—and what comes next
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What you'll learn
- 1 To Viktor, no spoils: Hungary’s new start
- 2 (02:39) **Orban's Defeat** - Victor Orban's Fidesz party loses to opposition TISZA under Peter Magyar, who wins a thumping majority
- 3 (04:56) **What the Majority Means** - Magyar's 54%-38% win likely gives TISZA a two-thirds majority, enough to change the constitution
- 4 (06:17) **Why Orban Lost** - The economy mattered, but voters were more concerned about corruption and Hungary's drift toward Russia
- 5 (07:58) **Global Significance** - Orban's ousting removes a major thorn in the EU and a hero to the international far-right
- 6 (08:53) **What Comes Next** - TISZA must figure out how to unwind 16 years of autocratic governance and unfreeze EU aid
- 7 (13:16) **Britain's Milk Surplus** - Britain is producing too much milk (13 billion litres, 5% more than last year), and prices have dropped 17% since September
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Show Notes
In a momentous election, Viktor Orban has lost power in Hungary after 16 years of increasingly autocratic rule. Our correspondent explains how the country’s opposition led by Peter Magyar ousted a corrupt regime. Why cows in Britain are producing too much milk. And celebrating the giant rat that helped sniff out landmines in Cambodia.
Guests and host:
- Matt Steinglass, Europe editor
- Harry Taunton, Britain writer
- Vishnu Padmanabhan, Asia correspondent
- Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”
- Jason Palmer, co-host of “The intelligence”
Topics covered:
- Hungary, Viktor Orban, Peter Magyar, populism
- Dairy farming, cows, milk, wellness
- Cambodia, landmines, Magawa, heroRats
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