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"Zsuzsanna Szelényi"
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How the Hungarian Election Will Change Europe
Mon, March 30th, 2026
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM (GMT+2)
Carnegie Europe Office and Live Online
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Hungary’s parliamentary election on April 12, 2026, is a litmus test for Europe. Amid disunity on what the EU’s global posture should be, the prospect of governmental change in Budapest raises fundamental questions about the country’s trajectory—including on its approach to union policies such as support funding for Ukraine, energy supply, and enlargement. The election’s outcome will also serve as a marker for radical-right parties across the continent: Will their momentum be weakened or reinforced?
To examine whether shifts in Hungary’s foreign and domestic policy are to be expected—irrespective of the election’s outcome—Carnegie Europe invites you to a public event with Zsuzsanna Szelény, former Hungarian MP and research fellow at the Central European University Democracy Institute, and Peter Hefele, policy director at the Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies. The discussion will be moderated by Carnegie Europe Director Rosa Balfour.
Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.
Event Speakers
Rosa Balfour
Director, Carnegie Europe
Rosa Balfour is the director of Carnegie Europe. Her fields of expertise include European politics, institutions, and foreign and security policy.
Peter Hefele
Policy Director, Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies.
Peter Hefele is the policy director at the Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies.
Zsuzsanna Szelényi
Research Fellow, Central European University Democracy Institute
Zsuzsanna Szelény is a research fellow at the Central European University Democracy Institute.