Hungary’s Civic Union (Fidez) was the runaway winner in recent national elections, taking power at the expense of the much-maligned Socialists. At the same time, the extreme rightist Jobbik party also posted significant gains. New Prime Minister Viktor Orbán faces the daunting task of consolidating his own party, enacting needed institutional reform, and keeping the IMF happy on debt repayment. In foreign policy, he must decide if the time has come for Budapest to change its longstanding hostility to Russia, which is now a force both in the region and internationally.

arianna trapani

15 June 2010