Hungary elections live updates: Merz says Orban’s defeat shows European democracy is ‘resistant to Russian propaganda’

Peter Magyar’s win was met with jubilation on the streets of Budapest late on Sunday, with tens of thousands – many of them young people – celebrating the hope of an end to Viktor Orban’s long grip on the country.

During celebrations on Sunday, Adrien Rixer said he would come back to Hungary from his home in London “because I really wanted to make my vote count, and I’m over the moon”.

“Finally I can say that I’m a proud Hungarian, finally after 16 years,” he told AP.

Others were uncertain whether Magyar’s two thirds majority would be enough to deliver meaningful change and avoid resistance from Orban’s Fidesz party.

“It’s hard to see that with two-thirds that it’s going to be a fair government, but we will see,” said reveller Daniel Kovacs. “Let’s hope that it’s going to be a promising four years.”

Imre Vegh, a Budapest resident, said early on Monday that Orbán had built an “illiberal system” that was against Hungary’s fundamental values.

“We are Europeans and we want to stay in Europe,” he said.

Magyar adds that anti-corruption measures will be among the first steps his government will take.

He says that he plans to amend the constitution to limit prime ministers to just two terms.

After Mr Magyar’s election win, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky quickly reached out in hopes of support.

“It is important when a constructive approach prevails. Ukraine has always sought good-neighbourly relations with everyone in Europe and we are ready to advance our cooperation with Hungary,” he posted on social media.

“We are ready for meetings and joint constructive work for the benefit of both nations, as well as peace, security, and stability in Europe.”

Here’s how other world leaders reacted:

Magyar insists that his government will do “everything” to restore the country’s democracy, and a system of checks and balances.

“We are going to bring back politics to people,” he says.

Magyar adds that his government will “refrain from interfering in the domestic affairs of any other country”.

He asks “the same from every other country”.

Addressing reporters on Monday, a victorious Peter Magyar vows to “represent every Hungarian”, including those who did not vote for his Tisza party, within and outside of the country.

He says that Hungarians voted to “start a new era”, saying they do not want just a change of government, “but a change of the whole regime”.

He says the election result could become final by 4 May, and calls on the president to convene the inaugural session of parliament as soon as possible, once the result is confirmed.

He goes on to say that “our place is in Europe”, as he works to repair ties with the bloc and secure access to billions in frozen funding.

Viktor Orban had sought the backing of the Trump administration to see his struggling party over the line in elections to shape the future of Europe. Instead, it appears that the President’s backing may have harmed his chance, writes James C. Reynolds:

Grégoire Roos, Director, Europe and Russia and Eurasia Programmes at Chatham House, says the result is “by far the most consequential election in Europe”, showing “even the most entrenched systems can break—and that voters can turn when pressure builds”.

Mr Roos said that the outcome shows “that inflation, fatigue with centralised power, and limits to sovereignty politics eventually catch up—even where control looks solid”.

“Is it the end of an era? Yes—and no. Orbánism has been rejected at the ballot box. And the fact that Orbán conceded defeat so quickly indicates that we can expect a smooth transition of power, with no Trump-like challenge to the election results. But lest we assume that Magyar’s victory marks the beginning of the end for populism in Europe.

“Populism is not disappearing across the continent—it is being tested, constrained, and forced to adapt.”

A spokesperson for the German government says, in light of Orbán’s defeat, that they expect the funds held up for Ukraine to pass ‘very quickly’ now.

Orbán had vetoed a vital €90bn loan for Ukraine in February, citing a dispute over a broken pipeline.

Dr Jonathan Eyal, associate director at the Royal United Services Institute, told The Independent that Magyar would aim to be “unobstructive” in allowing the loan to now pass.