By Martin Banks

EU politicians have broadly welcomed the outcome of Hungary’s keenly-awaited elections.

The Tisza party, led by Péter Magyar, won a two-thirds majority in the Hungarian parliamentary elections, with 98.9% of the votes counted on Monday.

Voter turnout hit a record high of close to 80%.

According to the results available at the time of writing, Tisza won 138 out of 199 parliamentary seats, with the ruling Fidesz-KDNP coalition dropping to 55 seats and far-right Hazánk securing 6 mandates.

No other party is set to enter the next parliament.

Viktor Orbán conceded defeat on election night, with Magyar writing on social media that the prime minister had called to congratulate him.

“The election results are painful for us, but clear… We are going to serve the Hungarian nation and our homeland from opposition,” Orbán reportedly ttold his followers.

Reaction from MEPs has been swift with Valérie Hayer, President of Renew Europe, saying, “Hungarian voters have chosen hope and a new political beginning. They have demonstrated that even a deeply entrenched system can be challenged.

“The responsibility now is to turn this result into real change — for a pro-European Hungary that is a constructive and reliable member of both the EU and NATO.

“We have clear expectations: a new leadership must rebuild democratic institutions, deliver genuine rule-of-law reforms and establish robust anti-corruption mechanisms and support Ukraine. “

The MEP added, “The lessons from 16 years of the Orbán regime are clear. The European Union must rethink unanimity rules, limit veto powers in sensitive areas and equip itself with stronger tools to defend its integrity. If Europe is to move forward, we must move beyond a one-size-fits-all approach. In key areas, like-minded Member States should be able to advance together. A multi-speed Europe can no longer be a taboo.”

Another senior MEP, Sophie Wilmès, Vice-President of the European Parliament and Chair of the working group on Democracy, Rule of Law and Fundamental Rights (DRFMG), added: “This result shows that Orbán’s illiberal, authoritarian model is neither inevitable nor irreversible.

“The Hungarian people have had enough of fear, corruption, isolation, and the steady erosion of their freedoms.

“The political change they chose carries the promise of a project grounded in respect for Europe, the rule of law and our democratic values. Restoring democracy will require significant effort and sustained political will. The damage done is substantial. The EU, its institutions and Renew Europe in particular are strong allies in this ambitious endeavour. We stand with the Hungarian people—full-fledged European citizens—as we always have.”

Meanwhile, the European Green Party welcomed the “historic outcome.”

Vula Tsetsi, Co-Chair of the European Green Party, said, “Despite heavy meddling from Trump and Putin, smear campaigns and propaganda, the Hungarians have had their say, they have made it clear they want the future of their country to be firmly embedded in democracy and in Europe.

“We hope that we will now see Hungary back on the path of respecting the rule of law, media freedom and fundamental rights. The end of Viktor Orbán’s rule, within weeks of the rejection of Meloni’s (Brothers of Italy, ECR) referendum, and the success of a pro-European candidate over right-wing populist Janša in Slovenia confirms a shift: people across Europe are rejecting authoritarianism and re-stating their pro-European attachment. As Budapest Mayor Gergely Karácsony has said, any political change that brings Hungary closer to Europe has always started in Budapest.”

Colleague, Ciarán Cuffe, Co-Chair of the European Green Party added: “While this result brings hope, it also demands vigilance. This is a historic result for Hungary, but also for Europe and especially Ukraine which should receive funds blocked by Orbán’s Government. Under Orbán, Hungary has suffered years of democratic backsliding, and as a result its civil society and media are fragile. Restoring media freedom, the independent judiciary and civil service, must now be the priority. Europe must support Hungary on this trajectory, while closely monitoring the new government.”

However, in a statement the group MCC Brussels struck a different note and said, “Orbán’s defeat is naturally a significant setback to those who support the values which defined his rule: national sovereignty, strong borders, and proud defence of national values. It is a sign of the depth of Orbán’s influence that even his opponent Péter Magyar was forced to speak in these terms.”

It added, “While Magyar should be judged on his record – and we hope he will be as firm in defending these values as Prime Minister Orbán has been – we should be wary of simply taking Magyar at his word. It

EU elites should also be wary of celebrating too soon. Whilst Orbán may have been defeated, the wider mood of the continent is unchanged. The populist revolution is still very much ongoing. The pushback against the EU elite’s addiction to uncontrolled migration, its disastrous energy and environmental policies, and its culture war against the values of European civilisation is still well underway.”pp