Statement

The International Union of Socialist Youth (IUSY) congratulates and applauds the Hungarian people for having exercised their democratic right to vote, and expresses its full support for the democratic outcome of these elections.

We stand in solidarity with the Hungarian youth and civil society who have consistently fought against 16 years of democratic backsliding, institutional capture, and the dismantling of checks and balances under the governments of Viktor Orbán, a regime that the European Parliament itself has labelled an "electoral autocracy." This change of course in Hungary represents the will of the Hungarian people and a historic opportunity to restore the rule of law, rebuild democratic institutions, and return Hungary to its rightful place as a full and committed member of the European democratic family, as an open democracy.

IUSY wishes to highlight the role of Hungarian youth, who have proven to be a key force for democratic change. The massive and widespread participation of young people throughout this campaign demonstrates a generational mobilization that challenges narratives portraying youth as responsible for the rise of the far right. We are proud of and stand in solidarity with all those young people who have used their vote in favor of greater European integration and who have clearly rejected the agenda of the far-right international, represented by figures such as Benjamin Netanyahu, Marine Le Pen, Santiago Abascal, and Javier Milei, who expressed their support, directly or indirectly, for political continuity in Hungary.

This defeat of the far right in Hungary opens a window of hope beyond its borders. IUSY trusts that this outcome may resonate in other countries across the region, demonstrating that democratic backsliding is not irreversible and that a citizen-driven alternative exists.

At the same time, IUSY views with caution the political profile of the winning leader, Péter Magyar. His positions on migration, his silence on fundamental issues such as LGBTI rights, and his worrying approach to foreign policy (particularly regarding Russia and his lack of unequivocal support for Ukraine) raise important questions about the country's political direction, which IUSY will continue to follow closely.

Therefore, despite ideological differences, we recognize this moment as an opportunity for the Hungarian people: an opportunity to leave behind a period of democratic deterioration and to open a new political cycle in which citizens regain their voice, institutions and free media are strengthened, and the country moves toward a more just, plural, and democratic future.