Hungary’s opposition party, the Tessá party, has won a landslide victory in the general election, ending the 16-year rule of right-wing Prime Minister and Trump supporter Viktor Orban.
The victory, led by party leader Péter Magyar, is being hailed as a major change in the country’s politics.
According to unofficial results, with almost all votes counted, the Tessá party won 138 of the 199 seats in parliament, giving it a two-thirds majority. In comparison, Orban’s Fidesz party won only 55 seats. Hours after the election results, Viktor Orban conceded defeat, calling it “painful but clear” and saying he would now serve the country by remaining in opposition.
A few days before the election, US Vice President JD Vance arrived in Hungary, where he said he had come to ‘help’ Viktor Orbán. Similarly, Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed support for Viktor Orbán, and on Friday he promised to use America’s ‘economic power’ for Hungary if Orbán is re-elected.
“We have changed history,” Péter Magyar told thousands of supporters after his victory. He vowed to end corruption, improve public services and improve relations with the European Union. The election also attracted global attention, as Viktor Orban was considered a prominent figure in right-wing global politics. European leaders welcomed the result, calling it a major step forward for democracy.
The election, which saw a voter turnout of nearly 80 percent, was largely attended by young people, which is being cited as a major reason for the political shift.
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