Why Péter Magyar’s Hungary will likely become a ‘normal’ EU member state

• What Magyar’s victory means for EU and Hungary

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There is huge relief in Brussels that the EU will no longer be blocked and mocked by Orbán, but there are diplomatic obstacles to overcome

In Brussels, the relief was palpable after the defeat of Viktor Orbán, the EU leader who recently declared himself at Vladimir Putin’s service. For the EU, Péter Magyar’s victory was all the sweeter, as voters decisively rejected Orbán’s fear-mongering campaign that sought to portray him in cahoots with the “dangerous” European Commission leader, Ursula von der Leyen, and the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

In 16 years as Hungary’s prime minister, Orbán has slowed, opposed, mocked or blocked numerous EU decisions – above all on European support for Ukraine.