Hungarian elections: "Winners and losers" as Orbán suffers defeat.
The seismic shift from the Hungarian election officially brought to an end Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's 16-year rule. His defeat to opponent Péter Magyar not only shook Budapest, but also sent shockwaves across Europe and the world.
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's 16-year tenure in Budapest has officially come to an end, after he conceded defeat to challenger Péter Magyar in the Hungarian elections held on April 12.
With almost all the votes counted by the evening of April 12 (Budapest time), Magyar is expected to win 138 out of 199 seats in Parliament. This is a supermajority, giving him broad powers to reform the country.
"Today, the Hungarian people have said 'Yes' to Europe, they have said 'Yes' to a free Hungary," Magyar said to a cheering crowd on the banks of the Danube River, while also calling on Orbán loyalists in state institutions to resign.
Prime Minister Orbán accepted the results in a speech. He affirmed that his Fidesz party would "serve the Hungarian nation and people from the opposition." Fidesz is currently on track to win 55 seats.
The impact of last weekend's vote extends far beyond the country's borders. Politico offers a comprehensive overview of the "winners" and "losers" from what is Europe's most pivotal election of 2026.
The Hungarian election earthquake and the winners.
European Union (EU) leaders
According to Politico, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa can breathe a sigh of relief as they bid farewell to one of the bloc's hardest-hitters. Orbán had repeatedly used his veto power on key Brussels decisions, including the financial aid package for Ukraine.
He was also one of the most vocal opponents of the EU, promoting Euroscepticism. His defiance of EU law directly challenged the European Commission's ability to enforce its regulations.
"Hungary has chosen Europe. Europe has always chosen Hungary. A nation reclaiming its European path. The Union is growing stronger," von der Leyen said immediately after Orbán conceded defeat.
Ukraine
In March 2026, Orbán vetoed a €90 billion loan to Ukraine – an agreement that had been finalized by EU leaders (including himself) in December 2025. The Hungarian leader withdrew his approval after Russian oil supplies stopped flowing through the Druzhba pipeline in Ukraine. Orbán argued that this was a strategy by Kyiv to weaken the Hungarian economy in order to interfere in the elections.
Ukraine urgently needs this funding to continue its defense against a potential Russian attack, especially as its budget is expected to run out before summer.
On the evening of April 12, President Volodymyr Zelensky sent his congratulations to Mr. Magyar. "Ukraine has always desired good neighborly relations with all countries in Europe, and we are ready to promote cooperation with Hungary," Zelensky shared, emphasizing that Kyiv is ready for "constructive meetings and cooperative efforts for the benefit of both peoples."
However, this was a bittersweet victory for Zelensky. The new Hungarian prime minister wants to build good relations with Brussels and may remove obstacles to loans. But Magyar also opposes sending weapons or cash aid to Kyiv, and does not support accelerating Ukraine's EU accession process. Magyar has pledged to put the issue to a referendum.
Hungarian youth generation
Politico reported that polls conducted ahead of the election showed that as many as two-thirds of Hungarians under 30 wanted Orbán to leave office.
In his victory speech, Magyar thanked the youth who poured into the streets of Budapest to celebrate. "Thank you for bringing hope back, hope for change," he emphasized.
The "losers" after the turnaround in Hungary
American leaders
US Vice President JD Vance visited Budapest on April 7th to support Orban's re-election bid, expressing confidence in his victory. At the same time, Vance alleged EU interference in the Hungarian vote. US President Donald Trump has also publicly endorsed Orban five times in the past six months and pledged Washington to provide economic assistance to Hungary.
"We have to help Orbán get re-elected as Prime Minister of Hungary, right?", US Vice President Vance once said to a crowd of Fidesz supporters. However, this result dealt a major blow to the White House, as they officially lost their most important ally in Europe amidst a backdrop of...transatlantic relationsThere are signs of cracking.
European right wing
Orbán, who frequently declares he will "take over" Brussels and change institutions from within, is a symbolic figure of the far-right "Patriots for Europe" party. This alliance brings together nationalist parties in the EU, such as the National Rally (France) led by Marine Le Pen and the Vox (Spain) led by Santiago Abascal.
Orbán's downfall is a major blow to other far-right figures in Europe, including Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who has just lost a key ally at the Brussels negotiating table.
Kremlin
In recent months, the media has highlighted the links between Hungary and Russia. A prime example is the telephone conversations between Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov. The two reportedly discussed closed-door EU meetings concerning sanctions against Russia, with Szijjártó allegedly promising to share classified European documents through the Hungarian embassy.
