Péter Magyar wins landslide victory, ending Viktor Orbán’s 16 years in power

Viktor Orbán’s 16-year grip on power in Hungary has come to an end after a dramatic election victory by opposition leader Péter Magyar, marking a significant political shift in the country.

Preliminary results, with more than 98% of votes counted, show Magyar’s Tisza party on course to secure 138 seats, comfortably ahead of Orbán’s Fidesz party, which is projected to win 55 seats. The far-right Our Homeland party is expected to take six.

The scale of the result signals a decisive rejection of Orbán’s long-standing leadership, which critics had described as an “electoral autocracy”. Magyar, a 45-year-old former insider within Orbán’s political circle, addressed jubilant supporters in Budapest following the result.

“We did it,” he told the crowd gathered near the River Danube. “Together we overthrew the Hungarian regime.”

The victory follows two years of campaigning by Magyar, who travelled across Hungary, speaking to voters in villages, towns and cities. His message focused on tackling what he described as entrenched cronyism and corruption, which had built up over years of Orbán’s rule.

Voter turnout reached a record 79.5%, reflecting strong engagement in what many saw as a pivotal election. Magyar highlighted the scale of public participation, saying that never before in democratic Hungary had so many people voted, and no single party had received such a strong mandate.

The result represents a striking turnaround in Hungary’s political landscape. Orbán had secured four consecutive election victories and maintained sweeping parliamentary majorities during his time in office. However, his dominance unravelled rapidly once the scale of Magyar’s support became clear.

In a notable moment on election night, Magyar revealed that Orbán had personally called him to concede defeat and offer congratulations. “Viktor Orbán just called me on the phone and congratulated us on our victory,” he wrote in a social media post.

Celebrations broke out across Budapest as supporters of the Tisza party gathered to mark the result. The atmosphere reflected both relief and optimism among those who had backed Magyar’s campaign.

Orbán later addressed his supporters at a conference centre in the city, acknowledging the outcome. “The result of the election is clear and painful,” he said, thanking the approximately 2.5 million voters who had supported his party. He added that the days ahead would be a time to “heal our wounds”.

Magyar’s projected seat total would give him a constitutional majority, enabling him to reverse key reforms introduced during Orbán’s tenure. This could lead to significant changes in Hungary’s political and institutional framework in the months ahead.

The election outcome marks a turning point for Hungary after more than a decade and a half under a single dominant leadership. With a strong mandate from voters, Magyar now faces the task of delivering on his promises and reshaping the country’s political direction.