Hungarian Scholars Aspire for Renewal in a Post-Orbán Landscape
In a historic election, Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and his Fidesz party experienced a major setback, igniting optimism among the academic sector for better conditions and autonomy in research and education. Throughout Orbán’s 16-year rule, academic freedoms in Hungary faced severe limitations, with numerous researchers left out of the EU’s Horizon Europe research programme and Erasmus+ student exchanges.
The opposition Tisza party, headed by Péter Magyar, a former associate of Orbán, has claimed approximately 54% of the vote, resulting in 138 of the 199 parliamentary seats. This triumph elevates hopes for a reformed alignment with the EU and the reversal of measures that limited the independence of Hungarian universities. Policy analysts predict that Magyar’s significant victory could reveal opportunities for essential reforms, including appointments in key judicial roles, undermining Fidesz’s obstructionist tactics.
Dóra Piroska, a political scientist at the Central European University, emphasizes that voter discontent with economic stagnation and the decline of public services played a crucial role in the election results. Petra Bárd, a legal scholar at Radboud University, indicates that the two-thirds majority attained by Tisza provides a foundation for vital legal and constitutional adjustments aimed at reinstating the rule of law.
Magyar’s campaign commitment to remove state universities from political control has been greeted with enthusiasm. The European Commission has previously condemned these political trusts for their conflicts of interest. Experts predict that independent professionals will soon take their place, though substantial institutional reforms will require time.
Orbán’s administration also placed the Hungarian Academy of Sciences under increased scrutiny, creating a backdrop of self-censorship among researchers. Imola Wilhelm from the HUN-REN Biological Research Centre highlights that transparency and stability are crucial for rebuilding trust and enhancing the international standing of Hungary’s scientific community.
With shifts in political dynamics, scholars hope that Hungarian researchers may soon regain access to future Horizon calls, a vital support for scientific endeavors halted due to EU funding limitations. The readiness of the European Commission to restore this access largely depends on the new government’s stability and reform initiatives.
Survey findings indicate a challenging history: a significant number of Hungary’s early-career scholars considered leaving academia due to the suspension of EU funds. Wilhelm underscores the necessity for a reduction of political influence and a gradual rebuilding of trust as the community embarks on this hopeful new chapter.