Viktor Orbán’s 16-year rule in Hungary has come to an end, as the system often described as an “electoral autocracy” collapsed under the weight of a decisive election defeat.
The victor is Péter Magyar, a 45‑year‑old former party insider who persuaded a majority of Hungarians to back his call for change, BBC reports.
“We did it,” Magyar declared to cheering supporters gathered beside the River Danube, opposite Budapest’s parliament. “Together we overthrew the Hungarian regime.”
Preliminary results, with more than 98 percent of ballots counted, put Magyar’s Tisza party on track for 138 seats in parliament. Orbán’s Fidesz secured 55, while the far‑right Our Homeland party won six. For two years, Magyar toured villages, towns, and cities, rallying citizens frustrated by corruption and cronyism.
On Sunday night, he hailed the record turnout of 79.5 percent, noting “Never before in democratic Hungary have so many people voted and no single party has ever received such a strong mandate.”
Orbán’s dominance, built through four successive election victories, ended abruptly. As supporters of Tisza celebrated, Magyar posted on Facebook that Orbán had personally called to congratulate him.
Shortly after, Orbán appeared before somber Fidesz colleagues, admitting “The result of the election is clear and painful,” while thanking the 2.5 million Hungarians who remained loyal.
At Tisza headquarters, activists embraced as word spread. Magyar pledged to reverse Orbán‑era policies in education and health, fight corruption, restore judicial independence, and dismantle the patronage system known as NER. With 138 seats projected, he appears set to surpass the two‑thirds majority of 133 needed for constitutional changes.
Celebrations erupted across Budapest, with cars honking and flags waving. Many supporters were once Orbán backers themselves.
“He’s someone you cannot be absolutely sure of,” said Ágnes, a lawyer, “but we need to hope for something better, which he promises — and we truly hope his promises come true.”
Magyar also vowed to reform state media, long aligned with Fidesz. The M1 TV channel, uncertain how to respond, replayed one of his earlier speeches even though victory had already been secured.
For years, Hungary seemed split between two realities: Orbán’s camp, buoyed by sympathetic pollsters predicting continued dominance, and Magyar’s growing movement, supported by independent surveys showing his lead. On Sunday night, those parallel worlds collided — and only one remained.
