Hungary has chosen Europe – European leaders and heads of state offer their congratulations to Péter Magyar
The Tisza Party has won a landslide victory in Hungary's parliamentary elections; with 95 percent of the votes counted, the only question remaining is whether Péter Magyar will secure a two-thirds majority in parliament. Fidesz-KDNP candidates are facing an insurmountable gap in the vast majority of constituencies, and Viktor Orbán has conceded defeat.
The Hungarian Prime Minister, who has been in power for 16 years, has become a major international player in recent years; so it is no coincidence that the Hungarian elections were watched with keen interest not only in Brussels, but also in the United States and Russia. Orbán has become an iconic figure of right-wing populism, and has been regarded as an ideological partner by several world-class politicians. His battles with the leadership of the European Union have on several occasions hampered the bloc's decision-making ability, and his illiberalism and pro-Russian stance have earned him many followers among the enemies of the establishment.
Péter Magyar, on the other hand, campaigned on returning Hungary to the Western alliance system, so it is understandable that many foreign politicians expected a more cooperative Hungary if the Tisza Party won the election.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen wrote that Hungary had chosen Europe and returned to the European path. In a message written in Hungarian, von der Leyen stated,
“Europe’s heart beats stronger in Hungary tonight.”
Von der Leyen featured prominently in Fidesz's campaign; the Commission President’s face appeared on most of the billboards displayed across the country. Orbán and von der Leyen have clashed frequently in Brussels, as Orbán has repeatedly attempted to block the Commission’s proposals using his veto power in the European Council.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz congratulated Péter Magyar, expressing his hope that they will be able to work together for a strong, secure, and united Europe.
Emmanuel Macron also congratulated the Tisza politician on X. Similarly to his German counterpart, the French president evaluated the election as a sign of Hungary’s commitment to Europe. Macron expressed his hope that Péter Magyar would work with him to move toward a more sovereign Europe, and he also posted a photo of himself with the Tisza politician.
On behalf of the Italian government, Giorgia Meloni wished Péter Magyar success in his work; also thanking her “friend,” Viktor Orbán, for their close cooperation over the years. The right-wing prime minister emphasized that Italy and Hungary are bound by a deep friendship. “I am certain that we will continue to cooperate in a constructive spirit, for the benefit of our peoples, and in the face of common challenges at the European and international levels,” she wrote.
One of Europe’s most prominent left-wing leaders, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, congratulated Hungarian citizens on the historic election. Sánchez also believes that Sunday’s results are a triiumph of Europe and European values.
British Labour Party leader Keir Starmer went even further, stating that
today is a historic moment, not only for Hungary, but for European democracy.
Yair Lapid, the leader of Israel’s largest opposition party, also offered his congratulations. Lapid has Hungarian Jewish ancestors from Vojvodina (northern Serbia); his father emigrated to Israel as a Holocaust survivor. Ekrem İmamoğlu, the imprisoned Turkish opposition leader, sent his best wishes to Péter Magyar from his prison cell.
A few minutes later, a message arrived from Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who, in addition to his congratulations, emphasized that Ukraine has always sought good neighborly relations with Hungary. The Ukrainian president could be one of the biggest winners of Orbán’s defeat, as the Hungarian prime minister essentially built his entire campaign around the perceived threat posed by Zelenskyy and the Ukrainians.
Romanian President Nicușor Dan also congratulated Péter Magyar and the Tisza Party. In a message shared on X, he wrote: The Hungarian people have spoken with a clear and powerful voice. The president also noted that Romania and Hungary, as neighboring countries and members of the European Union and NATO, work together based on shared values. He wrote that he is looking forward to opening a new chapter in Romanian-Hungarian relations.
“The Hungarians have made a historic decision for a free and strong Hungary in a united Europe, rejecting forces that ignore their interests. Congratulations to Péter Magyar on winning the election! I look forward to working together on what connects Estonia, Hungary, and Europe!” – Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal wrote in response to Tisza’s victory.
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre called the result highly significant and congratulated Péter Magyar and Tisza on their victory. “This result is of great importance for all of Europe,” the Norwegian head of government wrote on X.
Petr Pavel described the high voter turnout in the Hungarian elections as a victory for democracy in and of itself. The Czech head of state spoke to reporters at Prague Airport before departing for Argentina and Chile, and also expressed his hope that Hungary’s relations with the Czech Republic and its allies would improve in the wake of the elections.
Former Czech foreign minister and current Member of the European Parliament, Alexander Vondra, believes that the Tisza Party’s victory offers hope for the revival of the Visegrád cooperation. In his view, this depends on an improvement in Hungarian-Polish relations, which have been “greatly damaged” due to the ties between Viktor Orbán’s government and the Russian government.
Viktor Orbán’s close allies, such as Russian President Vladimir Putin, U.S. President Donald Trump, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have not yet reacted to the Tisza Party’s victory.