Continuing the analysis of the elections in Hungary and the subsequent comments from colleagues, I must emphasize once more: elections are not merely about political preferences. For professionals in the fields of politics, public administration, and law, this is, above all, a case study of how the design of a legal system shapes the future of an entire nation.
Erosion of the Competitive Environment
When observing elections, we often focus on the voting process itself while neglecting the “pre-electoral” space. In Hungary, a gradual shift in the legislative landscape occurred, leading to a concentration of resources within a single group. From the perspective of classical liberalism, this constitutes a breach of balance. When the political market ceases to be competitive, social and state institutions lose their primary function: to serve as an arbiter rather than a player.
Republican Checks and Balances
A true Republic is built on a principle we borrow from the American constitutional experience: “Ambition must be made to counteract ambition.”
• The electoral system must be shielded from the manipulation of district boundaries (gerrymandering).
• The institutional independence of election administration bodies and the judiciary must be an axiom, guaranteeing the sanctity of the “rules of the game,” regardless of who is in power.
A Corporate Governance Analogy:
Imagine a joint-stock company where a majority shareholder has granted themselves the right to unilaterally amend the Company’s Charter for personal gain, disregarding the interests of other shareholders. Would you invest in such a company? Would it remain stable? The answer is obvious. A country is a grand Social Contract; if the rules of this contract are altered to favor a single player, trust in the state evaporates.
Success Criteria for Ukraine
To build a robust Republic, we do not need “the right leaders,” but rather unshakeable mechanisms for selecting the best into government:
1. Legislative Stability: Rules must not be changed in the year leading up to an election.
2. Decentralization of Resources: Political weight must be distributed among communities, making usurpation at the central level impossible.
3. Economic Freedom: The less the state redistributes through the budget, the less temptation politicians have to utilize these funds as administrative resources.
The Hungarian example serves as a warning. Ukraine has a unique opportunity to build a system where individual liberty and private property are sacred, and where elections serve as the paramount instrument for the responsible will of free people. As a professional, I see my mission within the Central Election Commission (CEC) specifically as protecting this institutional foundation. Without fair competition, there is no development — neither in business nor in nation-building!