To Viktor, no spoils: Hungary’s new start

This episode of The Intelligence from The Economist opens with a celebration in Budapest following the historic defeat of Viktor Orbán and his Fidesz party after 16 years of autocratic rule. The opposition Tisza party, led by charismatic young leader Péter Márki-Zay, won a decisive victory with a projected two-thirds majority in Parliament, enabling constitutional reforms to reverse Orbán’s erosion of democratic institutions. The election was driven not just by economic woes but by widespread rejection of Orbán’s corruption, pro-Russian alignment, and undermining of EU integration. The new government’s immediate priorities include restoring EU aid—blocked for years over rule-of-law violations—and rebuilding democratic norms. Meanwhile, the podcast shifts to Britain’s dairy crisis, where overproduction, falling demand, and high costs are forcing farmers out of business, despite record exports. Innovative farmers like Johnny Crickmore are adapting through renewable energy and sustainable grazing, but systemic challenges remain. The episode closes with Cambodia’s remarkable use of African giant pouched rats—trained by NGO Apopo—to clear landmines, honoring the legacy of Magawa, a heroic rat who detected over 100 mines before his death. A statue of Magawa now stands in Siem Reap, symbolizing hope and the urgent need for continued funding to achieve a mine-free Cambodia by 2030.