Pulled back from the brink

This study analyses the results and the six factors that decided the outcome: the economic crisis and inflation, the emergence of a new opposition leader, the collapse of Fidesz's campaign narrative, the backlash against its anti-EU rhetoric, the generation gap, and the desolate state of public services. It also examines the electoral elimination of the established opposition parties and draws conclusions for strengthening the institutional safeguards of democracy and the rule of law in the European Union.