Hungarian parliamentary elections marked a turning point in the long rule of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. The defeat of his Fidesz party by the opposition Tisza party led by Péter Magyar was so significant that Orbán himself acknowledged it overnight, even before the final vote count was completed.
Source: OBOZREVATEL
However, as Politico notes, the consequences of these elections go far beyond Hungary itself — the change in power has implications for the EU, the United States, Ukraine, and Russia.
Orbán admits defeat
The parliamentary elections held on April 12 in Hungary ended Orbán’s 16-year dominance. The Fidesz party came in second place, while the opposition Tisza movement secured a constitutional majority — approximately 138 out of 199 seats.
“Today Hungarians said ‘yes’ to Europe, they said ‘yes’ to a free Hungary,” Magyar said on election night, calling on the government to resign.
Orbán acknowledged the defeat and announced that Fidesz would move into opposition, securing around 55 seats in parliament.
Who benefits from the change of power
Politico notes that among the beneficiaries are EU leadership figures, including Ursula von der Leyen and António Costa. They may now face less political pressure and fewer vetoes, which Orbán previously regularly used, including on aid to Ukraine.
Ukraine may also potentially benefit, as Orbán had repeatedly blocked EU financial decisions in Kyiv’s favor, including multi-billion-euro loan packages and used energy issues as leverage in political disputes.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was among the first to congratulate Magyar and expressed readiness for constructive cooperation with Budapest.
However, Politico notes that for Kyiv the situation is mixed: Magyar opposes military aid to Ukraine and accelerated EU accession, and also plans to put the issue to a referendum.
Internal changes in Hungary
The Tisza victory reflects a demand for change among young voters: more than two-thirds of voters under 30 supported the change of government.
Among other potential beneficiaries are journalists and healthcare workers, with independent media gaining a chance for reduced pressure and the healthcare system potentially seeing increased funding after years of underinvestment.
Who lost
Politico lists Donald Trump and J.D. Vance among the political “losers,” as they publicly supported Orbán ahead of the election. Also on the list are business structures linked to Fidesz and think tanks funded by Orbán’s government.
The Kremlin is also described as taking a blow, as Orbán was one of Moscow’s key allies in the EU, particularly on sanctions and internal EU decisions.
Implications for Europe
Politico notes that Orbán’s defeat weakens the right-wing populist bloc in Europe, including the “Patriots for Europe” group he actively helped build with allies.
Magyar has already announced plans to create an anti-corruption body to recover state assets and hold those involved in corruption schemes accountable.
“We will never again be a country without accountability,” he said.
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