Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban faced a significant defeat, creating ripples worldwide as Donald Trump lost his key ally in Europe. Hungarians signaled a desire to end Orban’s 16-year reign, opting instead for Tisza party leader Peter Magyar by a large margin. Orban’s leadership was marked by a shift away from the European Union towards closer ties with Trump and Russia’s Vladimir Putin.
Conceding defeat as it became apparent, Orban remarked, “The election results are not final yet, but the situation is clear. The outcome is painful but evident. We were not entrusted with the responsibility and opportunity to govern. I have congratulated the victor.”
The defeat resonated strongly in Moscow, with Kirill Dmitriev responding to Tommy Robinson’s assertion that Hungary had “fallen.” Dmitriev predicted, “This will hasten the EU’s collapse. Verify in four months if I am correct.”
The loss for Orban will be a blow to the Trump administration, which deployed Vice President JD Vance to support Orban’s struggling campaign. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer issued a cautionary statement to Trump, warning that authoritarian leaders eventually lose favor.
Leaders worldwide welcomed Magyar’s victory as a chance to reset Hungary’s relations with the rest of Europe. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, a previous target of Orban’s criticism, congratulated Magyar on Twitter and expressed readiness to enhance cooperation between Ukraine and Hungary.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer hailed Magyar’s win as a historic moment for Hungarian and European democracy, looking forward to collaboration for mutual security and prosperity. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, a rival of Orban, emphasized Hungary’s return to its European path, strengthening the Union.
Orban, known for his illiberal stance in Europe, advocated anti-immigration and pro-family policies that gained praise from conservative circles in the US. Despite promoting family-oriented measures to boost the population, Hungary fell short of the replacement birth rate, while also permitting Indian workers to address shortages in the transportation sector.
As of Monday morning, Magyar seems poised to secure a supermajority, with a record high turnout of 77.8% in the Hungarian elections.
