Global Insight: Ripples of Hungary election likely to be felt in NZ

Ripples from the defeat of Hungary’s Viktor Orban will likely be felt in New Zealand during the upcoming general election, Prof Robert Patman says.

The 16-year rule of Orban, a populist and Euro-sceptic, has come to an end with the election of Peter Magyar as the Eastern European nation’s new Prime Minister.

Peter Magyar during the election evening after he won parliamentary election in Budapest. Photo: Getty Images

International relations specialist Prof Patman believes the ousting of Orban, despite support from US president Donald Trump and some right-wing European leaders, will affect political debate in New Zealand ahead of early-November’s election.

The unseating of the promoter of what has been termed "illiberal democracy" will encourage some New Zealand politicians and dishearten others, Prof Patman suggests.

Watch the full interview:

"I think it will give fresh momentum to those who believe that democracy is the vision of the future and that democratic backsliding, there's nothing inevitable about it," Prof Patman told Otago Daily Times’ Global Insight.

"[And] those politicians who sympathise with the likes of Orban and Mr Trump may be feeling a little bit more defensive going forward."

In this episode of Global Insight, Prof Patman also talks about the impact Orban’s defeat will have on populism worldwide and the boost it will give to Ukraine’s defence against Russia’s invasion.