Orban Concedes After 16 Years as Hungary Backs Magyar for Prime Minister
Viktor Orban’s 16-year grip on power has spectacularly collapsed, BBC reports. The architect of a political system frequently condemned as an «electoral autocracy» has been ousted by Peter Magyar, a 45-year-old former party insider who successfully mobilised the nation for change.
Addressing jubilant crowds on the banks of the River Danube opposite the magnificent parliament building in Budapest, Magyar declared an end to the era.
«Together we overthrew the Hungarian regime,» he told cheering supporters.
A landslide victory and record turnout
Following a record-breaking turnout where 79.5% of the electorate cast their ballots, preliminary results based on over 98% of the vote project a staggering landslide. Magyar’s Tisza party is on track to win 138 seats, comfortably surpassing the 133 required for a powerful two-thirds supermajority. Meanwhile, Orban’s ruling Fidesz party has plummeted to 55 seats and the far-right Our Homeland secured just six.
For two years, Magyar travelled tirelessly across the country, visiting villages, town squares and cities to rally voters exhausted by the deeply entrenched cronyism of the incumbent government. His relentless campaigning culminated in a remarkably swift conclusion on election night.
With only 30% of the vote counted, Magyar shocked supporters by revealing on Facebook that the long-serving prime minister had already telephoned to concede. Shortly afterwards, a sombre Orban appeared at a conference centre down the river. Surrounded by glum Fidesz colleagues, he acknowledged the «clear and painful» defeat while thanking the 2.5 mln voters who remained loyal to him.
Dismantling the patronage network
The incoming prime minister now plans a sweeping overhaul of the state. Armed with a constitutional majority, Magyar intends to reverse Orban-era policies on education, restore judicial independence and dismantle the notorious NER patronage network that funnelled state resources to Fidesz loyalists.
He also has his sights set on reforming the pro-Orban state media, including the M1 TV channel. Demonstrating how out of touch the state broadcaster had become, M1 spent the evening airing an outdated, cautiously optimistic speech from Magyar long after he had already decisively won.
For many Hungarians, Magyar is an unlikely saviour given his own past ties to Orban’s inner circle. However, desperation for reform outweighed voter reservations. Speaking to the BBC, a lawyer named Agnes captured the national mood:
«He’s someone you cannot be absolutely sure of, but we’re at a point where we need to hope for something better, which he promises – and we truly hope his promises come true.»
Realigning with Europe
Magyar’s victory also signals a massive shift in Hungary’s geopolitical stance. While Orban drew international ire for his close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin and his obstruction of a €90 bn EU loan to Ukraine, Magyar has promised to firmly realign the country with the European Union.
Taking to the stage amidst chants of «Ria-Ria-Hungaria!», Magyar likened the electoral triumph to the historic anti-Soviet uprisings of 1848 and 1956. The crowd responded with roaring chants of «Russians go home.»
European leaders quickly celebrated the regime change. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk praised the «glorious victory» and echoed the anti-Russian sentiment in Hungarian. Leaning into this renewed alliance, Magyar announced his first official international visits will be to Warsaw to cement bilateral ties and Brussels.
In the EU capital, he aims to unfreeze up to €17 bn in funds that were previously withheld over rule-of-law and corruption concerns under Orbán’s tenure.
