Hungary’s New Leader and the Shift in European Politics

A 45‑year‑old lawyer named Peter Magyar has taken the helm in Hungary after a landslide win that gave his party, Tisza, 138 of the 199 seats in Parliament. The result means a two‑thirds majority that can push reforms and potentially undo years of rule by former Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has been in power since 2010. Orban’s nationalist Fidesz party will now hold only 55 seats, making it the biggest opposition group. The far‑right Our Homeland Movement will grab a handful of seats, while left‑leaning parties such as the Democratic Coalition and a satirical party failed to reach the 5% threshold. The victory has sparked celebrations in Budapest, with fireworks and chants of “Europe. ”International leaders have responded: Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk praised the win as a triumph for Europe, while Italian, Spanish, German and French heads of government congratulated Magyar and highlighted the importance of democratic values.EU officials, including Ursula von der Leyen, said Hungary has chosen Europe and that the Union will grow stronger. The shift is seen as a move away from Orban’s pro‑Russia stance, which had strained relations with Brussels and led to blocked aid for Ukraine. Orban accepted the defeat as “painful but unambiguous” and promised to serve from opposition. He had first led Hungary in the late 1990s, lost power, and then returned to a four‑term reign. Magyar’s plan includes restoring checks on institutions that were tightened under Orban, calling for resignations of top court and media officials, and promising to hold those who defrauded the country accountable. His first foreign trip will be to Warsaw, followed by Vienna and Brussels to reopen EU funding channels. The new government’s ability to enact a supermajority will determine how quickly reforms are rolled out and whether Hungary can re‑align with European norms after years of nationalist rule.