Péter Magyar and his Tisza Party won a landslide victory in Hungary's parliamentary elections on Sunday, ending Viktor Orbán's 16-year continuous rule. Preliminary results show the Tisza Party secured a dominant majority, with reports varying slightly between 136 and 138 seats out of 199 total seats in parliament.
The victory provides Magyar with a two-thirds supermajority, a threshold that allows his party to change the national constitution. Magyar told supporters, "Hungarians said ‘yes’ to Europe today, they said 'yes' to a free Hungary," while calling for Orbán loyalists in state institutions to step down.
In Moscow, the reaction was immediate and hostile. According to Russian media, Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov stated that Moscow will not congratulate Magyar on his victory and noted that Hungary is now considered an "unfriendly" country. This follows a period of intense Russian-backed disinformation campaigns aimed at boosting the incumbent Orbán.
A shift in European diplomacy
While Magyar's victory signals a break from the previous administration, his specific stance on the war in Ukraine remains a focal point for international observers. During a three-hour press conference, Magyar stated he would not initiate contact with Russian President Vladimir Putin, but he would respond if the Russian leader reached out.
"If Vladimir Putin calls I'll pick up the phone," Magyar told reporters. "I don't think it'll happen, but if we did talk I'd tell him to please, after four years, put an end to the killing and end this war."
Magyar also addressed his stance on U.S. relations, noting he would not call Donald Trump, though he would welcome a call from the former president. He expressed a desire to invite Trump to the 70th anniversary of the Hungarian uprising against Soviet occupation next October, stating they are "strong allies in Nato."
European leaders have already begun engaging with the new leader. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen assessed that "Hungary has chosen Europe." Magyar confirmed he has already held discussions with ten European leaders, including von der Leyen, Emmanuel Macron, and Friedrich Merz.
Despite the pro-European rhetoric, analysts suggest the political shift may be more administrative than ideological. According to El Mundo, Magyar is considered a "hard right" politician. His movement, characterized by a lack of traditional hierarchy and heavy reliance on social media, is viewed by some as an agile tool for navigating a controlled system.
Magyar's personal break from the Fidesz party was driven by corruption scandals rather than ideological shifts. The 45-year-old lawyer previously worked at the Foreign Ministry under Orbán but distanced himself from the party following a scandal involving presidential pardons and his divorce from former Justice Minister Judit Varga.
His new government's stated priorities include fighting corruption, reforming the healthcare system, introducing higher taxes for the wealthiest citizens, and unlocking frozen European Union funds. Magyar also expressed a desire for Hungary to eventually join the eurozone and has planned diplomatic visits to Poland, Austria, and Germany.
