Late on April 12 local time, Hungary's National Election Office released preliminary results showing that the ruling coalition led by incumbent Prime Minister Viktor Orbán lost the parliamentary election. The Tisza Party, led by Péter Magyar, emerged victorious, bringing Orbán's 16 consecutive years in power since 2010 to an official end. The election has drawn widespread international attention, involving complex dynamics among the US, Europe and Russia, and is likely to have far-reaching implications for the European Union and the future of the Ukraine war.
With nearly 99% of votes counted, the Tisza Party has won 138 of the 199 seats in parliament, securing a supermajority of more than two-thirds. Orbán's ruling coalition won only 55 seats, a reduction of more than half from its pre-election strength. The far-right "Our Homeland" movement won just six seats. Voter turnout reached 77.8%, a record high for a Hungarian parliamentary election.
Orbán conceded defeat in a speech on the evening of April 12. He said he had called Magyar to congratulate him. Orbán added that he would remain in the opposition and continue to participate in political activities. Magyar, in his victory speech, vowed to restore Hungary's position as a steadfast ally of the EU and NATO, and to re-establish checks and balances in the country.
New government's policies remain to be seen
Just 17 minutes after Orbán conceded, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen publicly posted a message congratulating "Hungary on its return to the European path." French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz also sent congratulations. Merz said Magyar's victory would facilitate Europe's dealings with Russia.
On the Russian side, the Kremlin said it respects the choice of the Hungarian people and hopes to build "pragmatic relations" with the new Hungarian government. However, Russian President's special representative Kirill Dmitriev wrote on social media that Orbán's defeat will only accelerate the collapse of the EU, adding, Come back and see if I'm right in four months.
For a long time, Orbán's government had clashed with the EU over issues such as migration, energy, sanctions on Russia and aid to Ukraine, repeatedly using its veto power to block relevant decisions and continuing to import Russian energy despite EU pressure. The Tisza Party, by contrast, has shown a clear "return to Europe" tendency in its foreign policy. It is widely expected that a Magyar government could reduce internal resistance to EU decision-making.
The Tisza Party will also face challenges in developing relations with the EU, including how to unlock approximately €20 billion in EU funds. This money is crucial for Hungary to alleviate its fiscal deficit and restart public investment. However, EU funding often comes with political conditions. To secure the funds, a Tisza government may find itself in a dilemma: reaching an agreement could require accepting a series of highly controversial policies domestically, such as reallocating migration quotas or supporting Ukraine's EU accession.
Seen as a bellwether for US midterm elections
The US political scene also reacted strongly to the election result. Former President Donald Trump endorsed Orbán multiple times before the election, and Vice President JD Vance even travelled to Budapest to campaign for Orbán. Analysts say such open US interference in another country's internal affairs touched a sensitive nerve among Hungarians regarding national sovereignty. Euractiv reported that Hungarian voters were unimpressed by Vance's visit, even leaving a negative impression.
The Democratic Party in the US sees the result as an important bellwether for the November midterm elections. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer posted on X: Donald Trump wants to be a dictator and eventually become unpopular. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries also said: Trump sycophants and MAGA extremists in Congress will be the next target in November.
The New York Times noted that Orbán's defeat interrupted the global populist revival momentum promoted by Trump, dealing a significant blow to the political path Trump represents.
China congratulates Tisza Party, expresses willingness for pragmatic cooperation
On relations with China, Magyar rarely discussed China policy during the campaign. However, the Tisza Party's would-be foreign minister, Anikó, hinted in a social media post in February that her government would adopt a "more pragmatic" approach towards China, saying "Hungary needs to maintain close economic ties with China and must not become vulnerable."
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said on April 13 that China congratulates Péter Magyar and the Tisza Party on their election victory. China highly values the development of its relations with Hungary and is willing to work with the new Hungarian government based on mutual respect, equality, and mutual benefit — enhancing high-level exchanges, increasing political trust, expanding practical cooperation, and broadening people-to-people exchanges for the benefit of both nations.
Related News:
Qantas cuts flights, increases fares in response to rising fuel costs
Trump claims Iran wants to 'make a deal very badly,' signaling US eagerness too
Comment