The 16-year tenure of Viktor Orbán has officially concluded following a decisive victory by the opposition Tisza party, led by Péter Magyar, in the recent Hungarian elections. Orbán acknowledged the outcome, labeling it a ‘painful yet clear’ defeat. This loss is likely to be a setback for Donald Trump, who has been a vocal supporter of Orbán, especially given that his vice-president, JD Vance, visited Budapest just days prior to the election. Attention now shifts to Magyar as observers anticipate potential shifts in Hungary’s interactions with the European Union and NATO after a period of tense relations. Lucy Hough converses with Ashifa Kassam, the Guardian’s correspondent specializing in European community affairs.