In a small square near Budapest\u2019s Nyugati train station, 40-year-old Gabor admitted to feeling extremely hungover after a night of celebrations. \u201cI celebrated all night,\u201d he chuckled. \u201cIt was wild; I genuinely believed Fidesz would secure victory. Now, I feel a wave of optimism.\u201d<\/p>\n
This sentiment reflects the mixed emotions of excitement and disbelief currently sweeping across Hungary. In a significant shift after 16 years under Viktor Orb\u00e1n\u2019s leadership, characterized by attempts to mold the nation into an “illiberal state,” Hungarian voters decisively chose to remove Orb\u00e1n and his Fidesz party from power in the recent elections.<\/p>\n
The high voter turnout resulted in a commanding win for the opposition Tisza party, prompting thousands of jubilant supporters to flood the streets of Budapest on Sunday night.<\/p>\n
Under the leadership of P\u00e9ter Magyar, the center-right Tisza party captured 138 out of the 199 parliamentary seats, granting it the authority to amend the constitution and potentially dismantle key elements of Orb\u00e1n\u2019s \u201cilliberal democracy.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI can hardly believe this is happening,\u201d remarked 37-year-old Eva. \u201cThis morning, I was preparing for an announcement that they had discovered a trove of ballots that would alter the outcome. Now, I\u2019m starting to accept that this is real.\u201d<\/p>\n
The election results were partly attributed to the mobilization of younger voters who rallied against Orb\u00e1n’s administration. Many of these voters came of age during a time when Hungary’s press freedom declined and the nation faced criticism for not fully functioning as a democracy, becoming the most corrupt country in the European Union.<\/p>\n
As results began to be announced on Sunday, spontaneous celebrations erupted along the banks of the Danube, spreading throughout the city as strangers embraced and exchanged high-fives in metro stations, chanting \u201cWe did it!\u201d and \u201cIt\u2019s over!\u201d amidst the sound of honking horns.<\/p>\n
Some jubilant supporters climbed lampposts to remove government posters, this time targeting Magyar and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy\u2014figures that had become synonymous with Orb\u00e1n\u2019s regime.<\/p>\n
Despite the revelry, uncertainty loomed regarding the future direction of the country, including among Tisza supporters. \u201cI feel we still don\u2019t know P\u00e9ter Magyar well enough,\u201d said 27-year-old Franciska Dombi while walking her dog, Charlie. \u201cHis speech patterns remind me too much of Orb\u00e1n. Being a conservative, I\u2019m unsure what to expect from him.\u201d<\/p>\n
This comment alluded to Magyar\u2019s history as a former Fidesz member. He began speaking out against the party in early 2024, citing corruption and cronyism, before establishing his own political movement.<\/p>\n
As his party capitalized on public discontent regarding corruption and deteriorating public services, Magyar traveled extensively across the country, conducting multiple rallies each day during the campaign. He promised to mend Hungary\u2019s strained relationship with the European Union, combat corruption, and restore essential public services.<\/p>\n
However, his plans were often vague, a strategy interpreted as a means to mitigate scrutiny from the 80% of Hungary\u2019s media landscape dominated by Fidesz loyalists.<\/p>\n
On Monday, Magyar declared that his party had achieved an unprecedented supermajority, empowering them to implement their policies. \u201cThe Hungarian electorate did not merely seek a change of government; they demanded a complete regime change,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n
The campaign occurred within a complex context, as the White House hastily endorsed Orb\u00e1n days before the election. Additionally, allegations of Russian interference further complicated an already uneven playing field, which global observers noted was \u201ctainted by the lack of a fair environment\u201d in 2022.<\/p>\n
Magyar expressed aspirations to assume power by May 5.<\/p>\n
On the streets of Budapest, many speculated about the future of Orb\u00e1n, who has been a prominent figure in Hungarian politics for decades, transitioning from a liberal, anti-Soviet advocate to a nationalist aligned with the far right.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis feels like a significant blow to him,\u201d remarked 28-year-old M\u00e1rton B\u00e1cs, reflecting on the overwhelming electoral outcome against Orb\u00e1n. \u201cI doubt he can recover from this politically in the long term.\u201d<\/p>\n
Others suggested that Orb\u00e1n, the longest-serving leader in the EU, would not retreat quietly. \u201cHe\u2019ll likely try to maintain a fa\u00e7ade of strength as opposition,\u201d noted 37-year-old Mariann.<\/p>\n
Eva, sitting nearby, acknowledged Orb\u00e1n\u2019s prompt concession of the election results less than three hours after polls closed. \u201cI can\u2019t envision him stepping aside,\u201d she said. \u201cYet I would be pleased to see him retreat; I can picture him fishing or gardening at home,\u201d she added with a laugh.<\/p>\n
Conversely, not all were pleased with the election outcome. \u201cI voted for Fidesz and I\u2019m quite disheartened by what transpired,\u201d expressed 72-year-old Katalin, voicing her concern over the lack of clarity regarding Magyar\u2019s plans. \u201cI might trust Tisza politicians more if I knew more about them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Similarly, 38-year-old M\u00e1rton \u00dcveges, another Fidesz supporter, expressed surprise at the results. \u201cI genuinely didn\u2019t anticipate this outcome,\u201d he stated, holding out hope that Orb\u00e1n might find a path to return after a four-year hiatus in opposition. \u201cWe\u2019ll have to see how he plans to rebuild from this point,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Given the extensive changes Orb\u00e1n implemented since 2010, few expect Magyar to effectuate rapid transformations. \u201cIt will likely take several years,\u201d predicted Dombi. During Fidesz\u2019s tenure, the party had filled key state, media, and judicial positions with loyalists, raising questions about how they would respond to a Tisza-led government.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
In a small square near Budapest\u2019s Nyugati train station, 40-year-old Gabor admitted to feeling extremely hungover after a night of celebrations. \u201cI celebrated all night,\u201d he chuckled. \u201cIt was wild; I genuinely believed Fidesz would secure victory. Now, I feel a wave of optimism.\u201d This sentiment reflects the mixed emotions of excitement and disbelief currently […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":8901,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[117,302,1994,387,88,304,571],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8902","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uk-europe","category-uk-hungary","category-uk-p-ter-magyar","category-uk-the-far-right","category-uk","category-uk-viktor-orb-n","category-uk-world-news"],"yoast_head":"\n