Peter Magyar is set to be Hungary’s new prime minister after his Tisza party won a landslide two-thirds majority in a parliamentary election, ousting the Fidesz party of longtime Prime Minister Viktor Orban. With 97.35 percent of precincts counted in Sunday’s election, Magyar’s centre-right party secured 138 seats in the 199-seat parliament on 53.6 percent of the vote, while nationalist Orban’s Fidesz took just 55 seats with 37.8 percent, according to official results. Magyar pledged to unite all Hungarians and said the results of the election, which saw turnout of nearly 80 percent, represented a historic mandate.
Conceding defeat, Orban, who has led Hungary for 16 years, said that “the election result is painful for us, but clear”. Here’s how the world has reacted to the results: Prime Minister Kristen Michal said Hungarians had made a “historic choice for a free and strong Hungary in a united Europe, rejecting forces that ignore their interests”. I look forward to working together on what unites Estonia, Hungary and Europe,” Michal said.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen hailed Magyar’s victory, saying, “Hungary has chosen Europe.” “A country reclaims its European path. The Union grows stronger. Hungary has chosen Europe.
Europe has always chosen Hungary. Together we are stronger,” von der Leyen said on X. Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said Hungarians “demonstrated their strong will to be an active member of European Union and NATO.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz congratulated Magyar on his victory and said, “The Hungarian people have decided.” “I am looking forward to working with you. Let’s join forces for a strong, secure and, above all, united Europe,” he wrote on X. President Gitanas Nauseda called the result a “Big win for Hungary!
Big win for Europe!” “Congratulations to @magyarpeterMP. There are a lot of things we could and should do for the sake of democracy, justice and peace,” Nauseda wrote on X. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store said Magyar’s success was of “great importance” to Europe.
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