Hungary’s long-serving prime minister Viktor Orbán has been voted out of power after 16 years, as opposition leader Péter Magyar led his Tisza party to a decisive election victory that could reset the country’s ties with the European Union.
Orbán conceded defeat within hours of polls closing on Sunday, calling the outcome “painful but unambiguous”. Addressing supporters in Budapest, he said he had congratulated the winners and pledged to serve the nation from the opposition benches.
With nearly all votes counted, Tisza was projected to win 138 seats in the 199-member parliament, securing a super-majority. Orbán’s ruling Fidesz party was reduced to 55 seats, while the far-right Mi Hazánk secured six.
The scale of the victory gives Magyar the power to amend key laws and even the constitution, raising the prospect of reversing several institutional changes made during Orbán’s tenure and unlocking long-frozen EU funds.
Celebrations erupted along the Danube in Budapest, where thousands gathered as results were announced. “We have rewritten history,” Magyar told supporters, promising to restore democratic institutions, tackle corruption and rebuild ties with Brussels.
The result is being seen as a significant setback for rightwing populist movements globally, many of which had viewed Orbán as a model. Leaders such as Donald Trump and JD Vance had openly backed Orbán in the run-up to the vote.
Across Europe, however, leaders welcomed the outcome. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said Hungary was “reclaiming its European path”, while UK prime minister Keir Starmer described it as a historic moment for European democracy.
The election comes after months of strained relations between Budapest and the EU, particularly over sanctions on Russia and support for Ukraine. Orbán had repeatedly clashed with Brussels, vetoing key measures and deepening Hungary’s isolation within the bloc.
The election saw a record turnout of nearly 80 percent, driven in part by strong mobilisation among younger voters. Surveys had suggested that a majority of voters under 30 backed the opposition, reflecting growing frustration over governance, press freedom and corruption concerns.
Orbán’s government had faced criticism for weakening institutional checks and balances, tightening control over media and reshaping the judiciary during its long tenure.
Despite the emphatic mandate, analysts caution that Magyar’s government will face significant hurdles. Fidesz loyalists remain deeply embedded across state institutions, the media and the business sector, potentially slowing reform efforts.
At the same time, expectations are high. Magyar has pledged sweeping changes in governance and public spending, but fiscal constraints could limit the pace of delivery.
Even so, the election marks a turning point. After more than a decade and a half of increasingly centralised rule, Hungarian voters have signalled a clear desire for political change — one that could reshape both domestic governance and the country’s role within Europe.