Viktor in name, but no longer in fact. Historic election in Hungary.
1. Orban loses power after sixteen consecutive years (2010-26), plus four earlier (1998-2002) in government.
2. Turnout (79%) marks the highest since the establishment of democracy, between ten and twenty points higher than previous consultations.
3. Peter Magyar’s victory involves the entire national territory – although it is much stronger in the capital and urban areas, while the result is more balanced away from the cities.
4. Exactly for this reason Tisza (Magyar’s party) obtains a huge parliamentary majority – because it wins in almost all electoral districts. A majority that exceeds the 2/3 needed for constitutional amendments. It should be 137 seats out of 199. 55 for Fidesz.
In percentage terms, the proportions are:
Tisza (Magyar): 53.7%
Fidesz (Orban): 37.7%
Which is a crushing defeat for the outgoing prime minister: he had not fallen below 40% for twenty years.
Also noteworthy is the 6% (7 seats, thanks to proportional distribution) of the Our Homeland Movement.
The new Hungarian parliament will therefore be composed of representatives from three parties: a majority right-wing force, with a radical right-wing opposition, and an ultra-right-wing one.
(of course these categories are forced here, just as the vote of Hungarians should not be interpreted this way, but according to official affiliations it is so).
5. Tisza is in fact part of the European People’s Party. Congratulations came from German Chancellor Friederich Merz (of the same party), who together with the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk become Peter Magyar’s first allies on the continent.
6. The Hungarian vote had a very strong international dimension – thanks to Orban’s ability over these years to challenge and influence European politics (“reconciling with Europe” is among Magyar’s watchwords), and to inspire the constellation of the global radical right, including our home section.
7. And indeed, Giorgia Meloni’s comment was scant: “I wish Magyar good work.” She who in fact campaigned for Orban, thus offering Italy (whose interests she says she defends) a resounding defeat on the European level – but why, is Europe important to us? Who cares, we are already friends with Trump, that’s enough and more!
(She had already done so with Spain, against Sanchez, and there too she suffered a heavy setback. In Brussels there is now a queue of people against whom the premier has campaigned. But yes, “many enemies, much honor” – right?)
8. Magyar however kept his European friends away from Hungary: the right choice. Orban instead, highly appreciated by Vladimir Putin, showed direct support also from Benjamin Netanyahu, Javier Milei, Matteo Salvini – and then you asked for it, Vic – Marine Le Pen… But above all from Donald Trump.
9. The US vice president was in Budapest a few days ago, rallies, hugs, pats on the back, compliments… and empty ballot boxes. JD Vance objectively spent more time in Hungary than in Pakistan, which really casts doubt on the White House’s clarity.
10. Not only was turnout very high, but the vote also had a generational dimension. Young people under 30 massively chose the challenger, while the outgoing one was still chosen by the older age groups.
Curiously, Magyar (46 years old) said that as a young man he had a photo of his former idol Orban (64) in his room. But I imagine he has now taken it down.
