For sixteen years, Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party seemed an unshakeable force in Hungary, built on restoring parliamentary dominance and national self-confidence. However, its central error became glaringly obvious as the 2026 election approached: confusing deep institutional control with ongoing social consent. The party persistently framed its campaigns around geopolitical struggles—war in Ukraine, Brussels, sovereignty, foreign interference—a message that had proven effective in the past. Yet, this time, a significant portion of the electorate appeared less swayed by…