Trump ally Viktor Orban’s 16-year rule in Hungary ends with crushing defeat ​

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, considered close to US President Donald Trump, was defeated in the country’s election after 16 years in power. Opposition leader Peter Magyar is set to become the new PM after a landslide victory.​

Magyar, 45, a former  insider of Orban’s party, belongs to the Tisza party. Tisza won 138 seats, while Orban's party Fidesz won 55 seats, and the far-right party Homeland won 6 seats. This result ends Orban’s 16-year tenure in power as Hungary's PM.

Magyar broke away from the party in 2024 and formed his party Tisza. Since forming the party, he has reportedly toured Hungary relentlessly, holding rallies in settlements, which have recently seen him visiting up to six towns daily. In the campaigns, he has raised issues such as Hungary’s stagnating economy and its poor healthcare.

Magyar’s tenure will play a pivotal role in relations with Europe, as there were accusations that Orban government frequently shared the contents of EU discussions with Moscow, as he was considered close to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Orban believed that he would regain power in the election, but the result turned the tables after the votes were counted. 

It is also said that Orban’s defeat is a loss for Trump and his team, who went to great lengths to support the nationalist leader in the final stretch of campaigning.

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