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Orban’s defeat shows the Achilles’ heel of populist power

Formerly ascendant European right-wing parties are in retreat, a possible omen for Trump’s MAGA movement.

By MAX BOOT

Washington Post
April 13, 2026

What’s the biggest danger facing Europe? I would argue it’s not Russia, China, Iran or even the United States. It’s the threat of homegrown illiberalism — of right-wing populists who will mismanage economies, undermine democracy, victimize minorities, corrupt the government and cozy up to dictators such as Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping.

The threat appeared to be reaching critical mass last year with the ascension in the U.S. of President Donald Trump, who has pledged to use American power to help his far-right compatriots. In August, polls showed far-right parties in the lead for the first time in Europe’s three powerhouses: Britain, France and Germany. The threat is far from over, but there is some heartening evidence from the past month suggesting that the fever may be breaking.