Orban's 16-year rule ends, Magyar wins Hungarian elections

Viktor Orban has conceded defeat in Sunday's election in Hungary, ending his 16-year rule. Orban called the result of Sunday's election, in which Peter Magyar's opposition Tisza party dominated, "painful." 

Magyar is projected to win two-thirds of the seats in Hungary's 199-seat parliament. With about 96 percent of the votes counted, Tisza is projected to win 138 seats, compared to 55 for Fidesz and 6 Mi Hazank. 

"Thank you Hungary!" - Magyar wrote on social networks, while he had previously held a press conference. 

And Orban told his supporters that he "congratulated the winning party." 

"We will serve the Hungarian nation and our country even from the opposition," Orban said. 

It is a major blow to Orban, the longest-serving leader of a European Union member state and one of his biggest opponents, who has come a long way from his early days as a liberal and anti-Soviet figure to the Russia-friendly nationalist admired today by the global far right.

Orban's and Magyar's parties said they had received reports of election violations, suggesting that some results could be contested by both sides.

Polling stations opened at 6 a.m. and closed at 7 p.m. Turnout was record high, over 78 percent. 

These elections were considered a choice between "West and East". 

Orbán has repeatedly obstructed European Union efforts to support Ukraine in its fight against full-scale Russian occupation, while cultivating close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin and refusing to end Hungary's dependence on Russian fossil fuel imports.

Recent revelations have shown that a senior member of his government has often shared the content of EU discussions with Moscow, raising accusations that Hungary was acting on Russia's behalf within the bloc.

The election was closely watched in countries across Europe and beyond, attesting to the enormous role Orbán occupies in far-right populist politics around the world.
In Budapest, but also in other cities in Hungary, there was celebration after Tisza's victory. 
And Magyar's party has received congratulations, including from German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron. 

Merz has said he is looking forward to working with Magyar and hopes to "join forces for a strong, secure and above all united Europe." 

Orban admits defeat, congratulates Magyar

Viktor Orbán has conceded defeat in Hungary's national elections held on Sunday. Orbán said the election result was clear and he accepted defeat, The Guardian reports. He said he had congratulated Peter Magyar on his victory.

"I congratulated the winning party. We will serve the Hungarian nation and our homeland even from the opposition," Orban said.

And Magyari also admitted in a Facebook post that Orbán congratulated him on his victory. 

Orban's 16-year rule in Hungary is over. He said the result was painful for his Fidesz party. 

With over 60 percent of the votes counted, Tisza is projected to win 136 seats in Parliament, while Fidesz will win 56 seats.

 With over 50 percent of votes counted, Tisza is expected to win 136 seats.

With 53.45 percent of the votes counted, Peter Magyar's Tisza party is projected to win 136 seats in the Hungarian Parliament, which would be the 2/3 majority needed. 
Viktor Orban's Fidesz will take 56 seats, while Mi Hazank will take 7 seats. 
 

Over 37 percent of votes counted, Tisza projected to win 132 seats

With over 37 percent of votes counted in Hungary's national elections, Peter Magyar's Tisza party is projected to win 132 seats in the Hungarian Parliament, just one seat short of a two-thirds majority. Viktor Orban's Fidesz is projected to win 598 seats and Mi Hazank 8 seats. 

Magyar also made a post on Facebook after the press conference. 
"Thank you Hungary!" he wrote. 
 

Over 21 percent of votes counted, Magyar's Tisza is leading convincingly

With 21.54 percent of the vote counted, Peter Magyar's Tisza party is projected to win 128 seats, five short of the 133 needed for a two-thirds majority, The Guardian reports. Viktor Orban's Fidesz is projected to win 62 seats and Mi Hazank's 8. 
 

Polls show Magyar heading for big win

Two opinion polls show the Tisza party winning the national elections in Hungary, meaning Peter Magyar will unseat Viktor Orban from the post of prime minister after 16 years, reports the BBC. 

The Median poll puts Magyar's party as the clear winner with 57.1 percent of the vote. This would mean that the Tisza party would have 135 seats. 

Meanwhile, this poll suggests that Orban's Didesz party will have 37.1 percent of the vote. 

The E Research Center puts Tisza as the winner with 55 percent of the vote, while Fidesz is in second place with 38 percent. 

The turnout in the elections has broken records. Around 78 percent turned out. 
Magyar called Sunday a historic day at a press conference. He thanked all voters and said he was "optimistic but cautious" after the polls showed him as the winner. 
 

Record turnout in Hungarian elections broken

Citizen turnout in the parliamentary elections in Hungary has broken records. The turnout figure as of 17:00 p.m. is 74.23%, a record for elections in Hungary.

Last time in 2022 it was 62.92%, and with more than an hour until polling stations closed, turnout has already surpassed the previous high of 73.51% in 2002.

Political analyst Gábor Török suggests that turnout could reach up to 80% when polling stations close.

This does not necessarily mean that it favors one party over another, however it is bad news for the far-right Our Homeland party and other smaller parties that need 5% of the vote to enter parliament.

Péter Magyar's Tisza party has said this is good news for the opposition, but both leaders are urging voters to go to the polls by 7 p.m.

Viktor Orbán's call on social media:

"There are a lot of people voting. That only means one thing. If we want to protect Hungary's security, no patriot should stay home!"

Meanwhile Magyar says:

"Now we must give it our all! Vote and encourage everyone to do so. Every vote can be decisive!"

Voting centers are still open for more than an hour.

Elections in Hungary, 66 percent of voters voted by 15:00 PM

Turnout in Hungary's parliamentary elections is expected to break records. According to data from the Hungarian election authority, turnout was 66 percent by 3 p.m.

Compared to the 15:00 PM turnout in previous elections, this election is expected to break the record, reports the BBC.

Voting centers opened at 6:00 AM and will close at 19:00 PM.

Viktor Orban's 16-year rule is at risk. Peter Magyar is challenging him.

Hungarians decide whether to end 16 years of Orban rule

Hungarians will vote on Sunday in what is seen as one of the most important elections in Europe this year, a vote that could remove populist Prime Minister Viktor Orban from power after 16 years in power. He is known as an ally of US President Donald Trump.

The election is crucial for Orbán, the longest-serving leader in the European Union and one that has often clashed with it. He has gone from a liberal politician and anti-Soviet in his early days to a nationalist close to Russia and beloved by the far right around the world.

Polling stations opened at 06:00 a.m. and are expected to close at 19:00 p.m. Orbán and his main opponent, Péter Magyar, are expected to vote during the morning.

The elections are being followed with great attention in Europe and beyond, due to the large role Orbán plays in right-wing populist politics.

Supporters of Donald Trump's "Make America Great Again" movement see Orbán's government and his Fidesz party as an example of conservative and anti-globalization policies. Meanwhile, supporters of liberal democracy and the rule of law sharply criticize him.

After the first hour of voting, 3.6% of registered voters had cast their ballots, according to the National Election Office. This is a record in Hungary's post-socialist history and almost twice as high as at the same time in the 2022 elections.