Image: from Disclose.tv X @disclosetv
By Open Chronicle Staff with Agencies
April 12, 2026
BUDAPEST — In a political earthquake that has sent shockwaves across the continent, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has conceded defeat in Sunday’s general election, ending his 16-year grip on power. Preliminary results show a historic victory for the center-right Tisza party, led by former government insider turned rival, Péter Magyar.
With 53.45% of the votes counted, the National Election Office projects a massive shift in the 199-member parliament:
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Tisza Party: 136 seats (securing a two-thirds supermajority)
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Fidesz (Orbán’s party): 56 seats
BREAKING 🔴 Tisza is winning a plurality in most constituencies, defeating long-term Prime Minister Viktor Orban's. pic.twitter.com/wQr20QJr3r
— Other Europe 🇪🇺 (@other_europe) April 12, 2026
A “Painful but Clear” Result
Addressing a crowd of somber supporters in Budapest late Sunday night, Orbán acknowledged the scale of the loss. “The results are painful for us, but they are clear,” he stated. “We will serve our nation from the opposition. Our task now is to strengthen our communities and never give up.”
Earlier in the evening, Magyar confirmed via social media that Orbán had called him personally to congratulate him on the victory. The transition marks the first time since 2010 that Fidesz will not lead the Hungarian government, a period during which Orbán became the European Union’s longest-serving leader and a lightning rod for his “illiberal democracy” policies.
(HUNGARY ELECTIONS)
BREAKING:
UPDATE (7)
🇭🇺Nearly 46% of votes counted: Viktor Orbán appears to be officially losing the election after more than 16 years in power, with Tisza’s Péter Magyar massively leading the election victory. https://t.co/Lj2xTfynRm pic.twitter.com/joStkqaf6X
— Defensive Century (@Def_Century) April 12, 2026
‘Hungary Has Chosen Europe’
The international reaction was swift. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, took to X (formerly Twitter) to hail the result, writing simply: “Hungary has chosen Europe.”
The election saw a record-shattering turnout of over 77%, reflecting a deeply mobilized electorate. Magyar’s campaign, which framed the vote as a “choice between East or West,” successfully tapped into frustrations over the cost of living, corruption allegations, and Hungary’s increasingly isolated position within the EU due to Orbán’s ties with Moscow.
A New Chapter for Budapest
Péter Magyar, 45, rose to prominence early in 2024 after breaking ranks with the Fidesz establishment. His Tisza party (Respect and Freedom) built a broad coalition that appealed to both disillusioned conservatives and liberal urban voters.
“Thank you, Hungary,” Magyar told a cheering crowd of thousands gathered along the Danube. “Today, we have reclaimed our future. We will rebuild our democratic institutions and return Hungary to its rightful place in the heart of Europe.”
The projected two-thirds supermajority will give Magyar the legislative power to overturn many of the controversial laws enacted during the Orbán era, though he faces the daunting task of reuniting a deeply polarized nation.