Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has conceded defeat in a landmark election, bringing an end to his 16-year hold on power.
Orbán acknowledged the outcome after results showed a decisive victory for conservative challenger Peter Magyar and his TISZA party.
With roughly two-thirds of precincts reporting, the TISZA party is projected to secure a commanding 137 seats in Hungary’s 199-seat parliament—enough for a supermajority.
Describing the outcome as “painful,” Orbán confirmed he had congratulated his opponent, admitting that his government had not been granted a renewed mandate by voters.
The result signals a major political shift in Hungary, particularly in the capital, Budapest, where supporters of Magyar celebrated the victory.
Magyar, a former government insider who repositioned himself as a pro-European reformist, has campaigned on tackling corruption and overhauling public service delivery. He has also pledged to steer the country away from Orbán’s long-standing “illiberal democracy” model.
The election recorded a high voter turnout of 77.8 percent, reflecting strong public engagement driven by concerns over Hungary’s economic direction and its relationship with the European Union.
Orbán’s tenure had drawn significant international attention due to his close ties with figures such as Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, as well as his frequent disputes with European Union institutions.
During the campaign, Orbán focused on the war in Ukraine as a key threat to Hungary’s stability, while Magyar capitalised on widespread voter dissatisfaction over economic stagnation.
Although both camps initially raised concerns about possible foreign interference, the outgoing administration stated that it had not identified any violations that would invalidate the election results.