So-called “Christian values” are supposedly what has made Hungary great again. That
is why so many U.S. conservatives point to the leader of Hungary, Viktor Orbán, and his form of “illiberal democracy” as the inspiration for reshaping American society through a dramatic expansion of Presidential power and overhaul of the federal government.
But would we, as U.S. citizens, flourish in this Hungarian-style vision for America? The answer is yes, if you are one of the 10 percent of the population who subscribe to Christian nationalism, a political ideology that asserts that God chose specific white Christians to govern the nation and all aspects of society.
However, for the remaining 90 percent of the public, the answer would be the end of
a free press, the deterioration of the rule of law, and the denial of basic rights and freedoms, especially for children, women, LBGTQ people, religious minority and non-white individuals. A look at what is happening today in Hungary tells the story.
Going back to 2010 when Viktor Orbán returned to power with a minority of the popular vote, he made preserving Christian identity his rallying cry for dismantling democracy in Hungary. And he got busy. His Fidesz party rewrote the Constitution, ended an independent court system, halved the number of seats in the Parliament, and designed new electoral districts to ensure supermajorities for the ruling party. Orbán also took control of the country’s media outlets, so that today, 80 percent of the market for political and public affairs news is financed by sources decided by the ruling party.
Due to these actions, the NGO Freedom House determined that Hungary is the only country in the European Union not considered “free.” But this ranking doesn’t bother Viktor Orbán, who describes Hungary as an “illiberal democracy” put in place to reject multiculturalism, immigration and political correctness while standing for (white) Christian values. Thus, Orbán’s government has decimated the rights of many of its citizens though such efforts as:
- Putting language in the Hungarian Constitution that makes it the duty of every state agency to protect the nation’s self-identity and Christian culture.
- Passing a law that removes the legal status of over 300 faiths and allows the state to confiscate their assets.
- Enacting the “Stop Soros” Law, which allows the government to jail its political opponents, and the “Defense of Sovereignty” law, giving a new authority. significant power to investigate NGOs that receive funding from other countries.
- Passing legislation that restricts the civil rights of LGBTQ Hungarians, including ending legal recognition of transgender individuals and preventing anything about homosexuality in education.
For those who believe in Christian nationalism and white supremacy, Hungary’s illiberal democracy sounds like a dream come true. But repression is costly, and Hungary is starting to pay the price. According to BNP Paribas, a bank, “Hungary has one of the worst performing economies in the region.” GNP in 2023 fell by 0.9 percent – meaning negative growth – while Hungary recorded the highest inflation rate of 17.5 percent in Europe.
Hungary’s creaking economy has not only increased the cost of imports and eroded purchasing power. It has caused an exodus of skilled workers who are leaving Hungary in droves for higher wages and a better life elsewhere. In fact, since Orbán took office in 2010, 325,000 highly skilled Hungarians have migrated to other countries, or about 3.5 percent of the population. This is the equivalent of the combined population of Hungary’s second and third largest cities, Debrecen and Szeged. Thus, disillusioned Hungarians are beginning to demand change, leading to three mass demonstrations in Budapest in April 2024 calling for the return to traditional democracy.
While the future for Hungary is uncertain, what is certain is that “illiberal” democracy based on Christian nationalism harms everyone and it is a threat to Christianity itself. The better path was expressed by the Apostle Paul in the Bible through his letter to the Galatians:
“It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don’t use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that’s how freedom grows.” (Galatians 5:13-14).