On the night of April 12, 2026, as the results of Hungary's parliamentary elections became clear, one chant rose repeatedly from the crowds gathered in Budapest: "Europe! Europe! Europe!"

For outside observers, this may have sounded like a simple expression of relief after sixteen years of democratic backsliding under Viktor Orbán's government. But for many Hungarians, it carried a deeper meaning. It was a statement about belonging.

At this critical juncture in our nation’s history, our mandate for the future is clear. We’re not trying to preserve the version of democracy that has failed us. We need a new form to emerge, rooted in Dr. King’s vision of a beloved community. This future democracy is built towards the ambition to repair our relationship to ourselves, each other, and this earth.