In our latest episode of Bad News, Good Lawyers, host Tom Firestone, head of our Government Investigations & White Collar Practice, speaks with David Kostelancik, a longtime U.S. State Department diplomat and former chargé d’affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Budapest, about the political shakeup following Hungary’s 2026 national elections.
On April 12, opposition candidate Péter Magyar secured a decisive victory over Viktor Orbán, bringing to an end Orbán’s tenure as Europe’s longest‑serving head of government. Kostelancik offers perspective on how this unexpected result came together and what it reveals about shifting political dynamics within Hungary.
The conversation also examines the broader foreign policy implications of the election. Kostelancik discusses what the change in government means for EU sanctions on Russia and support for Ukraine, as well as relations with the EU more broadly. In addition, Firestone and Kostelancik explore whether the new government can follow through on commitments to confront entrenched corruption and address Hungary’s reputation for “crony capitalism.”
This episode offers timely insight into what comes next for Hungary and why the election results will be closely watched well beyond Central Europe.