Hungary’s political landscape shifted dramatically on Sunday, April 12 as Prime Minister Viktor Orbán conceded defeat after 16 years in power, following a decisive parliamentary election victory by challenger Péter Magyar and his Tisza party.
With more than 98 percent of votes counted, Tisza secured 138 seats — enough for a two-thirds supermajority — while Orbán’s Fidesz party was projected to win just 55 seats. Voter turnout reached 77 percent, the highest since the end of communist rule in 1989.
Magyar addressed supporters in Budapest on election night, telling crowds, “You have empowered us to build a functioning and humane country, for all of us.” Celebrations unfolded across the capital, including along the Danube River and at the Chain Bridge, illuminated in Hungary’s national colors.
A different kind of conservative
Magyar, a former Fidesz insider and diplomat, campaigned on an anti-corruption platform while maintaining conservative positions on key issues such as immigration. In a New Year’s address, he pledged to halt the importation of non-EU guest workers, positioning himself to the right of many European leaders on migration policy.
Analysts say the election reflected a split within Hungary’s conservative electorate. Rodrigo Ballester of the Mathias Corvinus Collegium (MCC) told The Epoch Times that Magyar built a coalition united primarily by opposition to Orbán.
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Hungary’s new government is expected to be formed by mid-May, with questions remaining about how Magyar’s broad coalition will function once in office.
“He founded his entire campaign on the one common denominator… hostility to Orbán,” Ballester said, describing public support for Magyar as cutting across ideological lines.
Roland Tardi, also of MCC, noted that Magyar’s conservative image was politically necessary but suggested uncertainty about the composition of his future government, pointing to figures within his circle with differing ideological leanings.
The outcome follows mounting economic and political pressures. Hungary’s economy grew just 0.4 percent in 2025, lagging behind regional peers, while unemployment reached a 10-year high. Magyar’s focus on corruption, governance, and public services resonated with voters more than Orbán’s emphasis on geopolitical issues such as the war in Ukraine and tensions with the European Union.
Lower courts had previously challenged aspects of Orbán’s governance, while critics have accused his administration of centralizing power. However, Bánk Boros of the Nézőpont Institute, a pro-government think tank, disputed claims that Hungary had become authoritarian. “Free and fair elections take place… the opposition can exist and organize openly,” he told The Epoch Times on April 10.
International impact
Viktor Orbán had drawn much attention for being skeptical of the EU and vetoing many of its initiatives. Meanwhile, he was seen as increasingly friendly with Russia and China.
The election campaign drew significant international attention in its final days. On April 8, U.S. Vice President JD Vance visited Budapest, praising Orbán’s leadership and criticizing European Union policies toward Hungary. The following day, April 9, U.S. lawmakers sent a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen alleging EU interference in Hungary’s domestic affairs during the election period.
At the same time, several members of the European Parliament called on the European Commission to address what they described as threats to electoral integrity, citing concerns over foreign influence and media conditions.
Younger voters played a decisive role in the outcome. Polling by Medián indicated that roughly three-quarters of voters under 30 supported Tisza, while only about 10 percent backed Fidesz. High turnout among younger Hungarians contributed significantly to the record participation rate.
Observers note that younger voters’ views do not align neatly with traditional political categories. While many expressed support for leftist social issues such as LGBT rights, they also voiced strong opposition to immigration, reflecting broader trends in Hungarian society.
Magyar has pledged to visit Poland and Brussels as his first foreign trips, aiming to restore relations with the European Union and unlock billions of euros in frozen EU funds. European leaders, including von der Leyen, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, welcomed the outcome of the election, framing it as an opportunity to strengthen Hungary’s ties with the bloc.
Looking ahead, Magyar has promised to reform state institutions, increase healthcare spending to 7 percent of GDP by 2030, and reduce Hungary’s reliance on Russian energy, with a target of ending dependence by 2035. However, observers note that economic realities and public opinion — particularly on energy and immigration — may limit the abilities of the new government.
