In this episode of Peace Matters, we take a closer look at Hungary’s upcoming parliamentary elections and what they could mean for the country and Europe. After 16 years in power, Viktor Orbán faces a serious challenge from former ally Péter Magyar. But is the challenge that serious after all? We explore the possible election outcomes, the dominance of the right in Hungarian politics, and the weakness of the left. The episode also examines Fidesz’s family and gender policies and how they shape voter behavior, particularly among women. Finally, we discuss why this election is so consequential for Europe as Hungary heads to the polls.

Guest:

Andrea Peto is a Professor at the Department of Gender Studies at Central European University, Vienna, Austria, a Research Affiliate of the CEU Democracy Institute, Budapest, and a Doctor of Science at the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. Pető is an internationally sought-after public speaker, and her works on gender, illiberalism and politics have been translated into 25 languages. She has held guest professorships at universities in Argentina, Canada, Germany, Israel, Serbia, and Sweden.

She received numerous awards for her contributions to public life, including the 2018 All European Academies (ALLEA) Madame de Staël Prize for Cultural Values and the 2022 University of Oslo Human Rights Award. She is a Doctor Honoris Causa of Södertörn University, Stockholm, Sweden. Recent publications include The Women of the Arrow Cross Party: Invisible Hungarian Perpetrators in the Second World War, Palgrave, Macmillan, 2020, and Forgotten Massacre: Budapest 1944, DeGruyter, 2021.

The highly contested category of gender is always central to her work as a researcher and teacher, as well as to her engagement as a feminist public intellectual.

Accompanied by:

Marylia Hushcha, Researcher and Project Manager at the IIP.

The episode was recorded on 23 March 2026.