The parliamentary elections in Hungary have produced a result that until recently seemed unimaginable to many. The opposition party Tisza, led by Péter Magyar, won a clear victory and the incumbent Prime Minister, Viktor Orbán, admitted defeat after sixteen years in office. According to the interim results, with almost 99% of the votes counted, Tisza should win 138 seats in the 199-seat parliament, while 133 seats are enough for a constitutional majority. Fidesz would have 55 seats and the far-right Our Fatherland party would have six, Czech Television reported.
The elections were accompanied by an extraordinary mobilisation of the public. Voter turnout reached 79.56%, the highest since the restoration of a pluralist political system, with over 5.8 million people turning out to the polls, a record since the fall of the socialist regime. In 2022, turnout was 62.9 percent. A large part of Hungarian society saw the elections as a referendum on the country's future direction: either maintaining strong ties with the major powers or moving towards renewed relations with the EU.
Who is Péter Magyar
Magyar is not a newcomer to Hungarian politics, he is a former insider who knows the system up close. In his victory speech he promised to be a loyal ally within the EU and NATO and wants to renew cooperation in the Visegrad Four. He pledged to dismantle the Orbán system, fight corruption and restore the independence of the judiciary. He has called for the resignation of the heads of leading state institutions, including the Constitutional Court and the media office. He told the people: „We did it. Tisza and Hungary won this election.“ His first foreign trips are planned to Vienna and then Brussels, where he wants to try to restore the flow of EU money to Hungary.
Orbán: „We will never give up“
Orbán conceded defeat the same evening. He said that the result was painful for Fidesz, thanked the supporters and stressed that two and a half million voters had voted for the party. „Whatever happens, we will serve our country in opposition,“ he told his supporters in Budapest, adding: „We will never give up. We never give up.“
A stormy campaign: Trump, Zelensky and toxic posters
The election campaign was exceptionally sharp and also affected international politics. In February 2026, Orbán was publicly endorsed by the US president Donald Trump, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said during a visit to Hungary in February that Hungary's exemptions from Russian sanctions are entirely dependent on the personal relationship between Trump and Orban. In late March, Trump again endorsed Orbán on his Truth Social network, calling him a strong leader, a fighter and a friend. In the final week of the election, the US vice-president flew to Hungary to support Orbán's campaign J. D. Vance, who accused the European Union of foreign interference in the elections.
The campaign has not avoided direct attacks on neighbouring states. Orbán had posters put up with Volodymyr Zelensky and the inscription „Let's not let Zelensky have the last laugh.“ Zelensky responded by saying that if Orbán does not stop blocking €90 billion in financial aid for Ukraine in the EU, he will hand over his address to Ukrainian soldiers. The Parliamentary Delegation of the Council of Europe, which visited Hungary in March 2026, said in a statement that there is a toxic atmosphere in the country and that the very democratic character of the country is at stake in these elections.
World leaders„ reaction: “Europe's heart beats stronger'
The results prompted an immediate wave of congratulations from all over Europe. President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen wrote on the X network that „The European heart beats stronger in Hungary today“ and that the country has chosen a European future. The French President Emmanuel Macron announced that he had contacted Magyar by telephone to congratulate him and said that France saluted the victory of democratic participation and the attachment of the Hungarian people to the values of the European Union. The German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he looked forward to working together for a united Europe. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer described Tisza's victory as a historic moment not only for Hungary but also for European democracy.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who has long criticised Orbán, said: „Back together! A glorious victory, dear friends.“ Alluding to Orbán's ties with Moscow, he wrote in Hungarian: „Russians, home!“ Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo wrote that the result of the elections will allow Hungary „to return to the European community of values and security as a constructive player„. Zelenský, who was the target of Orbán's attacks during the campaign, also sent his congratulations.
Slovakia: Fico congratulates cautiously
A special position was taken by the Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, Orbán's closest Central European ally. Fico congratulated the winner of the election, but did not name Magyar in his contribution. He referred mainly to economic interests: „I believe that Slovakia and Hungary, as well as the whole of Central Europe, remain very interested in the resumption of the Druzhba pipeline.“
Czech politicians: Fiala attacks Babiš, Babiš congratulates, Macinka mourns
The Hungarian elections had an immediate impact on the Czech political debate and revealed clear front lines. Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, who publicly supported Orbán before the elections, congratulated Magyar after his defeat. According to Czech Television, he wrote that President Tisza had won the trust of the majority of Hungarians and had high expectations of him, and stressed that he would always work with whoever the voters chose.
Deputy Prime Minister Karel Havlicek from ANO commented soberly: „Congratulations are in order, it's a convincing victory,“ told Czech Television, adding that the result was decided after 16 years „material fatigue“. At the same time, he refrained from getting too excited: „I don't think he's fully divorced ideologically from what Orbán did.“
The Foreign Minister expressed himself more sharply Petr Macinka from the Motorists. He told CNN Prima News that „Viktor Orbán is definitely an ally that our government is losing,“ However, the Czech Republic wants to have above-standard relations with the future government. At the same time, he drew attention to sensitive topics: „I heard toxic words. We will be watching closely to see if the debate on the Benes decrees is launched and how it is conducted. When I have the opportunity to meet the new minister, we should clarify this so that we can have a superior relationship.“
President Petr Pavel stressed the record turnout as a victory for democracy and adopted a cautious tone: „It will depend very much on how the winner of the elections will face all the challenges we have before us. They are not few. Elections are always a finite period, but after them comes sobering and real work that will not wait. There is a lot of work ahead, not only for Hungary but for all of us, whether it concerns the European Union or the North Atlantic Alliance.“
Former Prime Minister reacted most sharply of all Czech politicians Petr Fiala from ODS, who immediately used the result as domestic political ammunition. He wrote on the X network: „Viktor Orbán is leaving the leadership of Hungary. Great news for Europe, bad news for Babiš and Macinka.“ And he added: „I am glad that populism and kowtowing to Putin have been defeated. I believe that this defeat is the beginning of the end of this style of politics throughout Central Europe. And I believe that after Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic will follow suit.“ On the X network, he also shared a video with the caption „A difficult evening in Průhonice“ - a montage of photos of Babiš and Orbán together, accompanied by a song by Michal David, Ekonomický deník reports.
Chairman of the Pirates Zdeněk Hřib He wrote: „Orbán has lost! We now believe that Hungary has chosen to return to democracy, the values of the rule of law, support for families and a state with a future for young people. After years of rapprochement with Russia, perhaps the possibility of change is finally coming.“ He also told Czech Television that the opposition's victory could mean an end to blocking EU sanctions against Russia and greater support for common European defence.
President of STAN Vít Rakušan used the results as a direct message to Czech voters: „I am sure that we will be able to get rid of Babiš and the nationalists in the next elections and defend a full-fledged democracy,“ he wrote, promising that his movement would work on it.
Head of the People's Party Marek Výborný He congratulated Tisza and reminded her that the movement belongs to the European People's Parties. „May he use his large majority to govern Hungary well and restore good relations with its neighbours. Hungary, welcome back to the centre of Europe!“ he wrote, according to Czech Television.
Chairman of ODS Martin Kupka he said: „After 16 years, Hungary is opening a symbolic new chapter in the name of Péter Magyar. After years of rapprochement with the Kremlin and controversial moves towards European partners, Hungary is entering a period in which it will once again strengthen cooperation within Europe.“
Former Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky he assessed the situation straightforwardly: „To me, it feels more like a slow revolution.“ And he added: „It clearly shows that when people get sick to their stomachs - and Hungary has reached the economic tail end - they are not interested in conservative values.“
What comes next
Magyar faces a huge challenge. If it does achieve a constitutional majority, it will be able to make far-reaching constitutional changes, but after 16 years of rule Fidesz has its people in various institutions, courts and other positions, as the Guardian warned. Magyar has pledged to „those who defrauded the Hungarian state will be held accountable", and promised to set up a system of brakes and counterbalances. Meanwhile, the results of the elections were immediately felt by the Hungarian economy - the forint strengthened significantly against the euro and the dollar during the vote count.
gnews.cz - GH
Czech 
English 
Spanish 
French 
Italian 
Russian 
Chinese 
German