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Orbán acknowledged defeat after partial results showed his Fidesz party was losing power for the first time in 16 years, bringing an end to one of the longest and most dominant political eras in Hungary’s recent history.
With most votes counted, Magyar’s centre-right Tisza party is on course for the two-thirds majority needed to make major institutional and constitutional changes. That would give him the power to push through a much broader political reset..
Magyar, a former Orbán ally who emerged as one of his fiercest critics, has pulled off a striking rise in a short period. He managed to build support among opposition voters as well as disillusioned Fidesz backers. His victory has been widely framed as an extraordinary breakthrough for a party founded only two years ago. In his message to supporters, Magyar said Hungarians had chosen Europe and pledged to restore checks and balances, rebuild democratic institutions and ensure accountability for those accused of abusing power or enriching themselves under Orbán’s rule.
The election drew a record turnout, underlining how much was at stake. Magyar said more people voted than at any other point in democratic Hungary, with official figures also showing more than 90,000 Hungarians voting from abroad and around 224,000 casting ballots away from their official address. This level of participation reflects how strongly voters were engaged in what was widely seen as a defining choice over Hungary’s future, its democratic direction and its place in Europe. The result is now expected to reshape Budapest’s relationship with the EU after years of tension over democratic standards, corruption and Orbán’s clashes with European partners.
European leaders including Ursula von der Leyen, Emmanuel Macron and Friedrich Merz quickly welcomed the result, hailing it a boost for European unity after years of disputes with Orbán over Ukraine, rule-of-law concerns and Hungary’s ties with Moscow. The outcome is also a direct political blow to Donald Trump, removing one of his closest allies in Europe and weakening the nationalist bloc Orbán helped symbolize.
What Else
Attention now turns to whether Magyar can convert his projected supermajority into rapid institutional change and a smooth transfer of power. The European Union will be watching closely to see how quickly a new government moves to reverse elements of the Orbán system and follow through on promises of democratic renewal.
