The post-communist countries of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) share a similar history, which created identities and value preferences that could accommodate illiberal constitutionalism. Nevertheless, illiberal constitutionalism has to date emerged only in Hungary and Poland, which have witnessed the gradual transformation of their political and legal systems (albeit to differing extents) over the past decade. The distinctive factor of illiberal transformation seems to be a charismatic leader who is willing to turn the existing constitutionalism into its illiberal version and attracts support for this project. Although other EU member states in the region have exhibited certain patterns of illiberalism, governing majorities have not transformed their respective constitutional systems into illiberal constitutionalism. In these cases, illiberalism—which may take the form of illiberal ideas in society, exclusion of certain ideas and people, and actions against the EU—remains only an element in political discourse rather than a dominating fact within constitutional and political regimes.