By Lucia I. Suarez Sang and Emmet Lyons
Updated April 12, 2026 / 10:00 PM EDT / CBS/AP
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán conceded defeat Sunday as opposition leader Peter Magyar was projected to win a commanding parliamentary majority, bringing an end to Orbán’s 16-year tenure. Orbán, the European Union’s longest-serving national leader and a prominent international ally of former US president Donald Trump, called the result painful but said his party would continue to serve from opposition.
With roughly 77 percent of ballots tallied, Magyar’s pro-European conservative Tisza party led with about 53 percent of the vote compared with roughly 38 percent for Orbán’s Fidesz. Magyar said up to 6 million people cast ballots in an electorate of just over 9 million and described himself as cautiously optimistic despite thousands of complaints alleging irregularities.
Crowds waving Hungarian flags gathered near the Danube and around the Parliament building in Budapest to celebrate the projected outcome, which many supporters described as historic and a step toward restoring democratic norms. Independent watchdogs and numerous European officials have long criticized Orbán’s government for weakening checks and balances, undermining the rule of law and increasing corruption since he first came to power in 2010. During his time in office, Transparency International has ranked Hungary among the most corrupt countries in the EU.
At polling places in Budapest, many younger voters told CBS News they backed Magyar to realign Hungary with the European Union and move away from what they see as Orbán’s pro-Russia, anti-EU orientation. One 21-year-old described Orbán as hostile to the EU and inclined toward Russia, while another said the vote was intended to help unite the country and rebuild civic institutions.
Orbán has been one of former president Trump’s closest international allies. The relationship was visible last week when US political figure J.D. Vance campaigned alongside Orbán in Budapest. Orbán later phoned Magyar to offer congratulations, and Magyar posted about the call.
European leaders swiftly welcomed the projected result. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the outcome strengthened Hungary’s ties with Europe. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz offered congratulations and expressed readiness to cooperate with the incoming government. French President Emmanuel Macron called the vote a victory for democratic participation and European values. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also extended congratulations and framed the result as significant for European democracy.
Aidan Stretch contributed to this report.