NPR
Hungary's Viktor Orbán concedes defeat, ending 16 years in power
+371 words added -192 words removed
− By
NPR Staff
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban arrives to address a "Day of Friendship" event at MTK Sportpark in Budapest, Hungary on April 7.
+ By
Esme Nicholson
,
Nick Spicer
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban arrives to address a "Day of Friendship" event at MTK Sportpark in Budapest, Hungary on April 7.
− Attila Kisbenedek/AFP via Getty Images hide caption
Hungarian voters turned out in the greatest numbers since the fall of communism in the 1990s to turn away from Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's Fidesz party, with exit polls indicating possible "super-majority" victory for Péter Magyar's Tisza movement.
+ Attila Kisbenedek/AFP via Getty Images hide caption
BUDAPEST — Disbelief turned to joy on the banks of the Danube where supporters of Hungary's incoming prime minister, Péter Magyar, celebrated his landslide victory over incumbent Viktor Orbán, who has served a total of five terms.
+ Concerns about whether the outgoing premier would concede dissipated when Orbán congratulated his challenger surprisingly early on election night.
Hungarian voters had turned out in the greatest numbers since the fall of communism in the 1990s to turn away from Orbán's Fidesz party, with exit polls indicating a possible "super-majority" victory for Magyar's Tisza movement.
− Prime Minister Viktor Orbán congratulated Magyar in a concession speech less than three hours after polls closed.
+ Consider This from NPR Dismantling Democracy: Lessons from Hungary's Viktor Orban Orbán congratulated Magyar in a concession speech less than three hours after polls closed.
− Ballots continue to be counted but the trend suggests a possible two-thirds majority for Magyar and his Tisza movement.
+ Early ballot counts suggested a possible two-thirds majority for Magyar and Tisza.
− Consider This from NPR Dismantling Democracy: Lessons from Hungary's Viktor Orban The vote is seen as critical for Europe and Ukraine, as the Kremlin-friendly Orbán has often clashed with European Union partners, notably over funding Kyiv's budget and war effort.
+ Péter Magyar, of the Tisza party, speaks to supporters after the Tisza party won the parliamentary elections on Sunday, in Budapest, Hungary.
− He has also faced accusations of corruption and misuse of EU funds, which he denies.
+ Janos Kummer/Getty Images hide caption
Speaking to a crowd of thousands of supporters waving Hungarian flags, 45-year-old Magyar evoked John F.
+ Kennedy by asserting: "Today we won because the Hungarian people didn't ask what their country could do for them, but what they could do for their country."
As the crowd chanted "Tisza is rising," Magyar compared this pivotal moment with the 1848 Hungarian revolution and the 1956 uprising against the Soviet Union. Supporters also chanted, "Russians, go home!"
The vote was seen as critical for Europe and Ukraine, as the Kremlin-friendly Orbán often clashed with European Union partners, notably over funding Kyiv's budget and war effort. Orbán also faced accusations of corruption and misuse of EU funds, which he denies.
− Vice President JD Vance appearing alongside Orbán and President Trump calling into a rally held by the man who wanted Hungary to become an "illiberal" democracy.
+ Vice President JD Vance appearing alongside Orbán, and President Trump calling into a rally held by the man who wanted Hungary to become an "illiberal" democracy.
− This story will be updated.
+ As Orbán leaves office, the Kremlin loses an ally in the heart of Europe and Ukraine can hope to see Hungary's new leader withdraw Budapest's current veto of 90 billion euros' worth of EU financial aid for Kyiv.