WORLD: The opposition ran for elections last year with a joint list. Many thought she had a real chance. Then Orbán won again with a two-thirds majority. Why?
András Hont: Since 2010, Orbán has rebuilt the state, its institutions and the electoral law in such a way that Fidesz always wins the elections unless something catastrophic happens. Guaranteeing people a better life is crucial to staying in power in Hungary. Fidesz has done everything to increase real wages. Graphing real wage growth and Fidesz election results reveals two parallel curves. In Hungary, maintaining power also means that the state leaves people alone. In the pandemic, everyone could use loopholes as much as they wanted or could afford.
WORLD: Many are trying to decipher his regime: dictatorship? Autocracy? What is it?