AfD leadership warns of setback for European nationalist movement after Orbán defeat

On Sunday, Hungarian Prime Minister Orbán lost the election after 16 years in power.

Alongside AfD co-chair Alice Weidel, US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had expressed their support for Orbán’s re-election.

Furthermore, US Vice President JD Vance visited Budapest just days before the election to support Orbán on the campaign trail.

For the AfD, Orbán served as a vital political reference point in Europe. Many of the party’s members viewed the Orbán government as a concrete example of consistent nationalist policy, particularly concerning migration and relations with the European Union.

At the same time, Hungary provided the AfD with opportunities for international networking and the ability to bolster its own standing through its proximity to a sitting head of government.

Höcke attributed the election result to various factors. Writing that “economics is more important than politics,” Höcke identified inflation, the loss of purchasing power, and the rising cost of living as the primary reasons for Orbán’s defeat.

Höcke argued that during periods of economic hardship, governments are “usually punished.”

Höcke is regarded as one of the leading figures of the “right” wing of the AfD, which has achieved high polling figures for months and has gained steadily increasing support, particularly in eastern Germany.

Internationally, this political camp receives support from the US. The Donald Trump administration explicitly supports nationalist governments in Europe with the objective of weakening the EU, while also maintaining its contacts with the AfD.