Post-Orbán Realignment: EU Responsibility and Governance (politico.eu)

• End of the 'Orbán-as-obstructionist' narrative in EU diplomacy.
• Increased pressure on member states to reach consensus on defense and economic integration.
• Shift toward accountability in central European governance.

"The departure of Viktor Orbán removes the primary convenient scapegoat for European policy stagnation. For years, internal EU gridlock and strategic indecision were frequently deflected onto Budapest’s veto-wielding obstructionism. With this obstacle removed, European leaders are now forced to confront fundamental internal disagreements over defense, industrial policy, and geopolitical alignment. The lack of a clear internal antagonist forces the bloc to move past performative politics and engage in substantive institutional reform to ensure long-term resilience and unity in a post-populist policy environment."