Weakened Fidesz Is Unbalancing Hungarian Foreign Policy

Since coming to power in 2010, the Fidesz party has presided over Hungary's government and state institutions largely unchallenged, but its position has recently weakened. The government's popularity has been waning, and several opposition protests garnered large turnouts in the fall. In late February, the party lost its two-thirds majority in parliament when an opposition candidate, supported by the liberal and left-wing opposition, won a by-election in the city of Veszprem. Meanwhile, the far-right Jobbik party has enjoyed growing popularity. Dealing with dissent within the party and the fallout from corruption scandals, Fidesz will struggle to fulfill its domestic and foreign policy aspirations. And as Fidesz considers moving toward the political center or the far-right to boost its position, the government's relationships with Russia and the West may change.