[NY Post] Hungarian right-wing populist Prime Minister Viktor Orbán conceded defeat Sunday after suffering a “painful” election result that ended the Trump administration ally’s 16-year grip on Budapest.
With 60% of the vote counted by afternoon, Orbán’s governing Fidesz party saw only 38% of ballots cast in its favor, compared to 52% for challenger Peter Magyar’s Tisza’s group.
’Thank you, Hungary!’’ Magyar, 45, posted on X as thousands of his supporters celebrated in Budapest.
Orbán, who received the backing of President Trump and Vice President JD Vance, said he called Magyar to concede the race once it was evident his party had lost.
“I congratulated the victorious party,” Orbán told his supporters. “We are going to serve the Hungarian nation and our homeland from opposition as well.’’
Orbán’s loss serves as a major blow to the right-wing, populist movement as it brings an end to the tenure of the European Union’s longest-serving leader and key western ally to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The election drummed up more than 77% voter turnout, a record number in any race in Hungary’s post-Communist history, according to its National Election office.
Magyar, who faced an uphill battle against Orbán, ran on a pro-European, anti-Russian platform.
Orbán has faced repeated criticisms for his cozying up to Putin, with his administration repeatedly accused of acting on Russia’s behalf within the European Union.
When casting his vote, Magyar told reporters that the election was “a choice between East or West, propaganda or honest public discourse, corruption or clean public life.”
Magyar hailed the victory as a new day for the country while thanking citizens for the massive turnout.
Hungarian Prime Minister Orbán is ejected after 16 years [total, not consecutive] in a European electoral earthquake
[AP] Hungarian voters on Sunday ousted long-serving Prime Minister Viktor Orbán after 16 years in power, rejecting the authoritarian policies and global far-right [!!] movement that he embodied in favor of a pro-European challenger in a bombshell election result with global repercussions.
It was a stunning blow for Orbán — a close ally of both U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin — who quickly conceded defeat after what he called a ″painful″ election result. U.S. Vice President JD Vance had made a visit to Hungary just days earlier, meant to help push Orbán over the finish line.
Election victor Péter Magyar, a former Orbán loyalist who campaigned against corruption and on everyday issues like health care and public transport, has pledged to rebuild Hungary’s relationships with the European Union and NATO — ties that frayed under Orbán. European leaders quickly congratulated Magyar.
His victory was expected to transform political dynamics within the EU, where Orbán had upended the bloc by frequently vetoing key decisions, prompting concerns he sought to break it up from the inside.
Post-Orban Hungary would not expose Israel to more EU pain, though support may ebb
[IsraelTimes] Longtime premier’s backing has helped blunt Europe’s ire, sparking concerns should center-right rival win governing majority, but his replacement is unlikely to significantly curtail ties with Jerusalem
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