Orban concedes defeat as Peter Magyar’s party leads in Hungary election

BUDAPEST: Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Sunday acknowledged defeat in parliamentary elections after official results showed conservative challenger Peter Magyar’s party heading for a commanding majority.

With ballots counted from nearly 67 per cent of precincts, official election results indicated that Magyar’s party was on course to win 137 seats in the 199-member parliament, giving it more than a two-thirds majority.

The election was being watched closely in Europe and the United States. Orban, who has governed Hungary for 16 years, had received backing from US President Donald Trump. Orban has described himself as a “thorn” in the side of the European Union and a defender of “illiberal democracy”, and is also seen as close to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Addressing reporters, Orban said, “The election results, though not yet final, are clear and understandable; for us, they are painful but unambiguous.” He added, “We have not been entrusted with the responsibility and opportunity to govern. I congratulated the winning party.”

Magyar, 45, who entered politics recently after previously being part of the government establishment, said on social media that Orban “just called to congratulate us on our victory”.

Turnout reached a record 77.8pc by 6:30pm local time.

Campaign shaped by economy and foreign policy

Orban had been seeking a fifth consecutive term. During his years in office, he reshaped Hungary into what he has called an “illiberal democracy” and repeatedly clashed with Brussels over rule-of-law concerns and support for Ukraine.

Magyar emerged as a major political force only two years ago. He campaigned on promises to tackle corruption and improve public services, gaining support at a time of economic stagnation despite an electoral system described as favouring Orban’s Fidesz party.

Both sides alleged foreign interference during the campaign in the central European country of 9.5 million people. US Vice President JD Vance visited Hungary this week to campaign alongside Orban and criticised what he described as interference by Brussels “bureaucrats”. Trump, meanwhile, had promised to bring US “economic might” to Hungary if Orban’s party won.

After casting his vote, Orban again warned that Europe was facing a “major crisis”. He said, “Fortunately we have a lot of friends in the world. From America to China to Russia and the Turkish world.”

He made Ukraine a central issue in his campaign, portraying the neighbouring country, which is resisting a Russian invasion, as “hostile” to Hungary. Orban also pledged to continue action against “fake civil society organisations, bought journalists, judges (and) politicians”.

Mixed mood among voters

Supporters of Magyar’s Tisza party gathered in Budapest in a celebratory atmosphere as early results came in. Orsolya Rozgonyi, a 28-year-old HR manager, told AFP, “I’m really excited. I came to this event full of hope … I’m optimistic about the change.”

By contrast, the mood was quieter among hundreds of Fidesz supporters gathered near the press centre, where access was restricted by cordons.

At a Budapest polling station, Maria Toth, a 31-year-old stay-at-home mother of two, told AFP, “it is so important for us that Viktor Orban stays in power”. She added, “I feel Hungary is under siege from so many directions and big powers like Brussels are trying to dictate how we live.”

Earlier in the day, Orban’s chief of staff Gergely Gulyas said he did not see, at that stage, “any infringement that would put the final result in question”. After voting, Magyar urged people to report suspected vote-buying, intimidation and other possible violations, while also calling for calm.