Viktor Orbán has lost the parliamentary elections in Hungary, and his political camp has been removed from power after 16 uninterrupted years in government. According to results published on Sunday and Monday, as well as reports from Reuters and AP, the centrist, pro-European TISZA party led by Péter Magyar emerged victorious, while Orbán himself acknowledged defeat.
This is a political earthquake not only for Budapest, but for the whole of Central Europe. Reuters reported that, with nearly all votes counted, TISZA was on track to win 138 seats in the 199-member parliament, giving it a constitutional majority and the ability to reverse part of the reforms introduced by Orbán. AP, meanwhile, reported that Magyar’s party received around 53 percent of the vote, while turnout reached approximately 80 percent, making this election one of the most significant in Hungary’s recent history.
Until recently, Orbán had seemed almost untouchable politically. In the end, however, he lost amid growing public fatigue over economic stagnation, the rising cost of living, problems in public services, and accusations of corruption and excessive concentration of power. Reuters noted that economic issues and Hungary’s international isolation weakened Fidesz, despite Orbán’s earlier support from some conservative politicians in Europe and the United States.
The profile of the winner is also symbolic. Péter Magyar is a former insider from Orbán’s own political system who, after a highly public break with Fidesz, built his own political movement and attracted voters disappointed both with the ruling camp and with the previously fragmented opposition. During the campaign, he focused mainly on everyday issues: inflation, wages, the condition of healthcare, transport, and the fight against corruption.
The consequences of this change may be far-reaching. Reuters assessed that the election result could improve Budapest’s relations with the European Union, increase the chances of unlocking frozen EU funds, and affect Hungary’s policy toward Ukraine. The markets reacted immediately: on Monday, the forint strengthened significantly, and investors began pricing in a more pro-European turn under the new parliamentary majority.
For Orbán himself, this is the greatest political defeat of his career. The politician who for years symbolized “illiberal democracy,” a hardline migration policy, and close ties with Moscow is now moving into opposition. His defeat may mean not only a change of power in Hungary, but also a weakening of one of the main reference points for Europe’s populist right.
