Episode 43: Trump, Orbán, and Tainted Democracy with Zsuzsanna Szelényi

Ivan Vejvoda welcomes Zsuzsanna Szelényi, foreign policy specialist, former Hungarian politician, and director of the Central European University Democracy Institute Leadership Academy. As a former member of the Hungarian Parliament (1990–1994, 2014–2019), she has advised governments on democracy, human rights, and governance. Her book Tainted Democracy: Viktor Orbán and the Subversion of Hungary (2022) has been widely recognized, including by Foreign Affairs as one of the best books of 2023. In this episode, the conversation explores the potential impact of Donald Trump’s presidency on Europe, the security challenges facing the EU, and the rise of illiberal democracy. Szelényi provides insight into the ideological shifts within Europe, the increasing influence of populist leaders like Viktor Orbán, and the structural weaknesses in the European Union’s response to democratic backsliding. She discusses how Trump’s unpredictability has prompted European leaders to rethink their security and defense strategies, yet divisions in threat perception among EU countries remain a challenge. The discussion also turns to Hungary’s evolving role within the EU, its relationships with China and Russia, and its balancing act between economic dependence on Europe and ideological alliances with authoritarian states. With Hungarian opposition leader Péter Magyar gaining ground, Szelényi examines whether Orbán’s grip on power may be weakening. She emphasizes that while illiberalism is on the rise, the fight for democracy is still alive—especially with younger generations in Central and Southeastern Europe demanding accountability and rule of law.