Viktor Orban’s 16-year rule of Hungary has been ended by a crushing election defeat for his right-wing nationalist Fidesz party.
Preliminary election results, based on more than 98% of votes counted, put the opposition Tisza party led by Peter Magyar on course for 138 seats.
That would comfortably give Magyar, 45, the two-third majority needed to make changes to the country’s constitution.
The former Orban loyalist campaigned fiercely against corruption and, unlike the defeated leader, is pro-EU.
Thousands of his supporters celebrated the result in the capital Budapest on Sunday night.
“We did it,” Mr Magyar told a crowd of cheering supporters in a square beside the River Danube, next to Budapest's parliament.
“Together we overthrew the Hungarian regime.”
Sir Keir Starmer hailed Mr Orban’s defeat in Hungary’s election as a “historic moment, not only for Hungary, but for European democracy”.
Hungarian voters on Sunday ended prime minister Mr Orban’s 16-year rule, handing power to the opposition Tisza party led by Mr Magyar.
Mr Orban, an ally of US president Donald Trump and Russian president Vladimir Putin, has long been a thorn in the European Union’s side.
Prime Minister Sir Keir said on X: “Congratulations @MagyarPeterMP on your election victory.
Congratulations @MagyarPeterMP on your election victory.
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) April 12, 2026
This is an historic moment, not only for Hungary, but for European democracy.
I look forward to working with you for the security and prosperity of both our countries.
“This is an historic moment, not only for Hungary, but for European democracy.
“I look forward to working with you for the security and prosperity of both our countries.”
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey wrote on X: “Trump, Putin, Farage… your boy took a hell of a beating.
“Congratulations to the people of Hungary for showing that populist extremists can be defeated – even despite Donald Trump’s best efforts.”
Sir Ed also mocked US vice-president JD Vance’s intervention in the campaign, in which he endorsed Mr Orban during a visit to Budapest earlier this month.
He added: “Has anyone noticed that wherever JD Vance goes, he just makes a mess.
“In Munich he insulted European allies. In Greenland he turned everyone against Trump. And now he’s helped Viktor Orbán lose re-election.
“Maybe better to spend more time on the couch @VP?”
Other MPs reacting on social media to Mr Orban’s removal included Labour’s David Taylor, who said “good riddance”, Neil Coyle, who said “great news!”, and the SNP’s deputy Westminster leader Pete Wishart, who wrote: “Fantastic. Maybe there’s a sense that the far right are in retreat across Europe.”
Liam Byrne, the Labour chairman of the Commons Business and Trade Committee, said the result “matters far beyond Budapest” and “should give progressives heart everywhere”.
“Viktor Orban, the unshriven leader of Fidesz, built a template for how a democratically elected leader can hollow out democracy from within,” Mr Byrne wrote on Substack.
“But if the authoritarian populist playbook model can be beaten in Hungary, it can be beaten anywhere.”
