The Japan Times - Orban loses Hungary vote to pro-Europe newcomer Magyar

Orban, a self-described "thorn" in the EU's side and defender of "illiberal democracy", lost Sunday's elections after 16 years in power, despite vocal support from both US President Donald Trump and Russia's Vladimir Putin, as Hungarians fed up with corruption gave Magyar a decisive victory.

Magyar's party, Tisza, won a thumping majority in the parliamentary elections, which drew record turnout and sent tens of thousands of jubilant supporters into the streets to celebrate as car horns sounded in the capital, Budapest.

Leaders across the EU welcomed Magyar's win, including French President Emmanuel Macron, who hailed a victory for the "values of the European Union", and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who called it a "heavy defeat" for "right-wing populism".

Crowds of Magyar supporters celebrated into the early morning hours outside his party's election headquarters on the banks of the Danube river, waving Hungarian flags and dancing.

"I feel fantastic!" Zoltan Sziromi, a 20-year-old student celebrating in the crowd, told AFP.

"We've finally got rid of that system, and it was about time."

- 'Back on track' -

Magyar, who arrived waving the Hungarian flag, told the cheering crowd that voters had "liberated Hungary", calling his party's win a "miracle" in the central European country of 9.5 million people.

"Today, the Hungarian people have said 'yes' to Europe," the 45-year-old conservative told supporters.

He promised to "restore the system of checks and balances..., guarantee the democratic functioning of our country" and put Hungary "back on track".

Acknowledging it was an "enormous" task, he called for unity, saying the victory belonged to "all Hungarians".

With 98.94 percent of precincts counted, Tisza secured a two-thirds majority, with 138 seats in the 199-seat parliament on 53.07 percent of the vote, according to official election results. Orban's Fidesz took 55 seats on 38.4 percent of the vote.

As first results came in earlier Sunday, Orban, 62, conceded defeat, saying the results were "clear and understandable".

"For us, they are painful but unambiguous," Orban told reporters.

Turnout in the election reached a record 79.56 percent, according to the near-complete vote count.

Orban, who was seeking a fifth straight term, has transformed his country into a model of "illiberal democracy", clashing with the EU over rule-of-law issues, as well as over support for war-torn Ukraine.

Magyar, a former government insider, burst onto the scene just two years ago, promising to fight corruption and offering better public services. He drew support against a backdrop of economic stagnation, and despite an electoral system skewed in favour of Orban's Fidesz party.

Ahead of the vote, both Orban's and Magyar's camps had alleged foreign interference in the campaign.

US Vice President JD Vance visited Hungary days ahead of the vote to rally with Orban, attacking the alleged interference in Hungary of EU "bureaucrats".

Trump had promised to bring US "economic might" to Hungary if Orban's party won.

- Travel warning lifted -

Neera Tanden, president and CEO of the Center for American Progress, said Orban's defeat was a "major blow to those who have looked to Viktor Orban's corrupt model as a blueprint -- including Donald Trump himself.

"This is a resounding defeat for authoritarianism that echoes far beyond Hungary's borders," Tanden added.

Orban, who has blocked EU decisions in support of Ukraine as the neighbouring country fights off Russia's invasion, had focused on making the issue the central topic of his campaign, portraying Kyiv as "hostile" to Hungary.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has pledged to work with Magyar -- who opposes sending military aid to Ukraine and a quick EU accession for the country -- "for the benefit of both nations, as well as peace, security, and stability in Europe".

Ahead of the vote, Orban had also vowed to continue his crackdown against "fake civil society organisations, bought journalists, judges (and) politicians".

Fidesz supporters gathered for the results-watching event in Budapest were stunned.

"I am a Fidesz supporter with all my heart," Juliana Varga Szabo, a 58-year-old teacher, told AFP, tears in her eyes, saying that perhaps she had been living in a "bubble".

"Now that bubble is burst. I won't change my values. We'll just have to see what the future brings," she said.

H.Takahashi--JT