Orbán's defeat and Trump's troubles don't signal Europe's far-right decline
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/profile/cas-mudde. "Trump may be a liability and Orbán is gone, but Europe’s far right is not in decline | Cas Mudde | The Guardian." May 7, 2026. www.theguardian.com
The Gist
Just because Hungary's authoritarian leader lost and Trump is currently unpopular doesn't mean Europe's far-right movement is dying. These parties are still winning elections and their ideas are becoming normal in mainstream politics.
Conclusion
Despite Viktor Orbán's electoral defeat and Trump's current toxicity, the European far right is not in decline and remains a significant political force
Premises
- Orbán's defeat was due to economic problems and corruption allegations, not rejection of far-right policies, as his successor supports similar anti-immigration stances
- Far-right parties remain in government across multiple EU states and lead polls in others, showing continued electoral strength
- Mainstreaming and normalization of far-right ideas continues, with mainstream politicians adopting their positions and collaborating with far-right parties
- Trump's current toxicity for European far-right is temporary and strategic rather than permanent, and his presidency still normalizes extreme positions globally
- Trump's extreme behavior makes European far-right leaders appear moderate by comparison, helping politicians like Meloni seem like mere conservatives
Assumptions
- Electoral defeats of individual far-right leaders don't necessarily indicate broader ideological rejection
- Political toxicity and alliance patterns are temporary and strategic rather than permanent
- Mainstream adoption of far-right ideas is more significant than individual electoral outcomes
- Global political discourse is influenced by the positions of powerful leaders like the US president