The elections in Hungary have concluded.

For many, this is just another headline in the international feed. But for those of us building a new Ukrainian Republic, it is a mirror we must examine with great care.

Let’s look at what happened there, not through the lens of emotion, but through the prism of republican ideology:

Facade Democracy vs. A True Republic

In Hungary, we observed a phenomenon I call “metal fatigue” in the system of checks and balances.

Did the elections take place? Yes. Did people vote? Yes. But was it a fair contest?

The core issue is not the counting of ballots—that process was handled correctly. The problem lies in the erosion of institutions. When a ruling political force gradually reshapes the rules of the game (electoral legislation, media access) to favor itself, elections cease to be a tool for changing power and instead become a tool for cementing it.

In a true Republic, following the example of the U.S. Founding Fathers, elections are merely one part of a broader system. The norm must be:

• The Law is superior to the whims of the majority;

• Individual Liberty is protected from the “tyranny of the majority”;

• Equal access to resources is guaranteed not by the state, but by fair rules of the game.

The Analogy: Elections as a Football Match

Imagine two teams step onto a pitch to play football. However, one of them has appointed the referee themselves and set up the goals (making their own much narrower), while the other team only learned the rules five minutes before the whistle. Can you call the result of such a match fair, even if the referee counted every goal perfectly?

In Hungary, we have seen how the “playing field” has been tilted in one direction over many years. And although the authorities failed to secure a victory this time despite these advantages, the very existence of such a phenomenon undermines the core idea of democratic elections.

Stakeholders and Opponents

• Stakeholders: Citizens who strive for real political competition and economic freedom. Our primary task at this stage is to unite them and equip them with a republican ideological worldview.

• Opponents: Proponents of the “strong hand” and leftist ideas of state paternalism (even if they label themselves conservatives). Those who believe the state has the right to interfere in every sphere of life for the sake of the “common good.”

The Forecast for Ukraine

The Hungarian experience must serve as a vaccination for us.

The path to a Republic lies through the reduction of the state as a social institution, the decentralization of power, and the sanctity of private property. When a citizen is independent of the state, their vote cannot be bought or intimidated.

As a member of the Central Election Commission, I see our responsibility not merely as managing the technical process of organizing elections, but as standing guard to ensure that the rules of the game remain stable and fair for everyone. We must have a system where no participant in the electoral process can stand above the Law.

Elections are a mechanism. But the essence of this mechanism must be the free, and most importantly, responsible hiring of the best professionals in politics and public administration by the citizens.