Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán conceded defeat Sunday in the country’s parliamentary election, calling the result “clear” and “painful” as partial vote counts showed a decisive win for opposition leader Péter Magyar.
Magyar said Orbán phoned him to concede, according to a post on social media.
With roughly 53% of votes counted, projections showed Magyar’s Tisza party on track for a landslide victory that could give it a two-thirds parliamentary supermajority.
The result could mark a dramatic political shift in Hungary, where Orbán has led the country for more than a decade.
Orbán, a close ally of President Donald Trump, had received strong backing from the White House in the final days of the campaign.
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Days before the election, Trump reiterated his support for Orbán in a post on Truth Social.
“My Administration stands ready to use the full economic might of the United States to strengthen Hungary’s Economy, as we have done for our great allies in the past, if Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and the Hungarian People ever need it,” Trump said. “We are excited to invest in the future prosperity that will be generated by Orbán’s continued leadership!”
Trailing in opinion polls ahead of the vote, Orbán faced his most serious electoral challenge since 2010, with surveys showing Magyar’s Tisza party holding a significant lead.
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Orbán, who has led Hungary for 16 years, has drawn scrutiny from the European Union over his positions on migration, Russia’s war against Ukraine and his government’s policies, while maintaining strong support among many rural and older voters.
His strained relationship with the European Union stems in part from his stance on Russia’s war against Ukraine, his firm support of Israel and his hardline position on migration, which has led to financial penalties from the bloc.
During Orbán’s time in power, Hungary’s economy has grown relatively quickly for an EU country, though inflation has remained elevated and business sentiment has been negative in recent years.
Before the vote, Orbán had expressed confidence in his campaign, calling it “a great national moment on our side” and telling reporters, “I’m here to win.”
Magyar, meanwhile, framed the election as a turning point for the country’s future, warning that Hungary’s direction in recent years had drifted from its Western alliances.
“I think this really will be a referendum on our country’s place in the world,” Magyar said.
Fox News Digital’s Eric Mack and Simon Constable contributed to this report.
