site.btaContinue the Change Issue Position on Hungary Elections

“Yesterday, Hungarians chose democracy over authoritarianism, Europe over Russia, and a better economic future instead of remaining the poorest country in the European Union,” the statement of Continue the Change says, referring to the recent election results in Hungary. 

According to the party, the fall of Viktor Orban from power sends a clear signal that when democracy is replaced by corruption, dependency, and populism, citizens eventually take their country back. “Hungarians chose freedom over fear and control,” the statement reads. 

The party argues that the “Orban model” has ended, claiming it was voted out with a record turnout of nearly 80%. It further states that, over the years, this model turned Hungary from one of the most successful economies in Central and Eastern Europe into the poorest EU member state, alleging institutional capture, controlled media, and systemic corruption benefiting a narrow circle of powerholders. 

The statement adds that EU funds were allegedly misused for personal enrichment and the creation of dependencies.

Continue the Change also draws parallels with Bulgaria, describing what it calls the “Peevski–Borissov model” [referring to GERB leader Boyko Borissov and Movement for Rights and Freedoms leader Delyan Peevski] as a reflection of similar dynamics involving concentration of power, dependency networks, and misuse of public resources. 

On economic policy, the party claims that while Orban relied on populism, price controls, and dependence on Russian energy, this led to high inflation and declining living standards in Hungary. In contrast, it credits Bulgaria’s economic direction under former finance minister Asen Vassilev with faster income growth, support for households and businesses, and fiscal discipline within the Maastricht criteria. It also claims that Bulgarian households currently have higher purchasing power than Hungarian ones and that Bulgaria has, for the first time in decades, surpassed a Visegrad country in real consumption. 

The statement concludes that Bulgaria faces a similar choice between a strong European future or a poorer periphery dominated by corruption and informal power structures. 

It calls on Bulgarian citizens to vote in large numbers in the upcoming elections on April 19, urging them to reject corruption and restore control of the state to its citizens, emphasizing that “change is possible and depends on each one of us.”