Viktor Orban suffers ‘painful’ election defeat ending 16 years of far-right rule in Hungary

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has conceded defeat after what he called a ‘painful’ election result.

The loss ends 16 years in power for the powerful figure in the far-right movement allied with Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

‘I congratulated the victorious party,’ Orbán told supporters in Budapest.

‘We are going to serve the Hungarian nation and our homeland from opposition as well.’

Initial official results show opposition leader Peter Magyar’s party dominating the election.

Magyar says in a Facebook update that Prime Minister Viktor Orbán called to congratulate them on their victory.

Orbán had turned Hungary into what he calls an ‘illiberal democracy’, declaring himself Europe’s defender of traditional Christian family values against an onslaught of multiculturalism.

During his 16 years as prime minister, Orban has launched harsh crackdowns on minority rights and media freedoms, subverted many of Hungary’s institutions and been accused of siphoning large sums of money into the coffers of his allied business elite, an allegation he denies.

Orbán also repeatedly frustrated EU efforts to support Ukraine in its war against Russia’s full-scale invasion, while cultivating close ties to President Vladimir Putin and refusing to end Hungary’s dependence on Russian fossil fuel imports.

Recent revelations have shown a top member of his government frequently shared the contents of EU discussions with Moscow, raising accusations that Hungary was acting on Russia’s behalf within the bloc.

In 2024, Magyar broke away from Orban’s ruling Fidesz party and became a whistleblower-style critic of the government, accusing it of corruption and abuse of power.

He prided his new party on being pro-European and more focused on domestic issues like cost-of-living and standards of healthcare.

Voters showed up in droves

Turnout by 6.30pm was over 77%, according to the National Election Office, a record number in any election in Hungary’s post-Communist history.

‘I’m asking our supporters and all Hungarians: Let’s stay peaceful, cheerful, and if the results confirm our expectations, let’s throw a big, Hungarian carnival,’ Magyar said.

Orbán’s chief of staff, Gergely Gulyás, said the record high turnout showed that ‘Hungarian democracy is extremely strong.’