Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban admits defeat in the European electoral earthquake

Hungarian voters on Sunday ousted long-time Prime Minister Viktor Orban after 16 years in power.

The result is seen as a rejection of the authoritarian politics and global right-wing movement embodied by Orban, in favor of a pro-European challenger in a surprise election result with global ramifications.

The election winner, Peter Magyar, a former Orban loyalist who campaigned against corruption and on everyday issues such as health care and public transport, pledged to rebuild Hungary’s relations with the European Union and NATO, which had deteriorated under Orban.

Opposition leader Peter Magyar campaigned on issues including what he described as rampant government corruption in Hungary (Denes Erdos/AP)

European leaders quickly congratulated Mr. Magyar.

It is not yet clear whether Magyar’s TISA party will obtain a two-thirds majority in parliament to govern without a coalition. After counting 77% of the votes, the party received more than 53% of support, compared to 38% for the ruling Fidesz party led by Orban.

It is a stunning blow for Orban, a close ally of both US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Orban admitted defeat after what he described as a “painful” election result.

The result was a stunning blow to Viktor Orbán (Petr David Josek/AP)

“I congratulated the victorious party,” Orbán told his followers.

“We will serve the Hungarian nation and our homeland from the opposition.”

Meanwhile, Mr Magyar posted on X: “Thank you Hungary!” As thousands of his supporters gathered on the banks of the Danube River in Budapest, chanting “We got it! We did it!”

Orban, the EU’s longest-serving leader and one of its biggest opponents, has come a long way from his early days as a liberal, anti-Soviet leader, to the Russia-friendly nationalist today admired by the global far right.

Thousands of Mr Magyar’s supporters gathered on the banks of the Danube River in Budapest (Darko Bandic/AP)

By 6.30pm, turnout had reached more than 77%, according to the National Electoral Office, a record high for any election in Hungary’s post-communist history.

Orbán and Magyar’s parties said they had received reports of electoral violations, suggesting some results may be contested by both sides.

“I ask our supporters and all Hungarians: let us remain peaceful and cheerful, and if the results confirm our expectations, let us have a great Hungarian carnival,” Magyar said.

Mark Radnay, vice president of TESA, also called for reconciliation after a tense campaign. He said: “We cannot be enemies to each other. Reach out to us and embrace your neighbors and relatives. It is a day of reunification.”

The European Union will wait to see what Magyar does about Ukraine. Orban has repeatedly thwarted European Union efforts to support Ukraine in its fight against a large-scale Russian invasion, while forging close ties with Putin and refusing to end Hungary’s dependence on Russian energy imports.

A man waves the Hungarian flag as he celebrates in the streets of Budapest (Denes Erdos/AP)

Recent revelations showed that a senior member of Orban’s government repeatedly shared the contents of EU discussions with Moscow, sparking accusations that Hungary was acting on behalf of Russia within the bloc.

Orban has played a large role in right-wing populist politics around the world.

Members of Trump’s “Make America Great Again” movement are among those who regard Orbán’s government and his political party Fidesz as shining examples of conservative anti-globalization policies in action, while being scorned by advocates of liberal democracy and the rule of law.

Casting his ballot in Budapest, 21-year-old Marcel Mehringer said he was voting “primarily so that Hungary can finally become a European country, and so that young people, and really everyone, can do their basic civic duty to unite this nation a little bit and break down these hate-borne borders.”

The elections were closely monitored in countries across Europe and beyond (Denes Erdos/AP)

During his 16 years as prime minister, Orban has launched harsh crackdowns on minority rights and media freedoms, sabotaged numerous institutions in Hungary, and has been accused of embezzling large sums of money into the coffers of the business elite allied with him, which Orban denies.

It also led to severe tension in Hungary’s relationship with the European Union. Although Hungary is one of the smaller EU countries, with a population of 9.5 million, Orban has repeatedly used his veto power to block decisions that require unanimity. Most recently, he blocked a €90 billion EU loan to Ukraine, prompting his associates to accuse him of hijacking vital aid.

Meanwhile, Magyar has rapidly risen to become Orbán’s most serious challenger.

The 45-year-old leader of the center-right Tisza party has focused his election campaign on issues affecting ordinary voters, including Hungary’s struggling public healthcare and transport sectors and what he described as rampant government corruption.

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