Orbán’s crushing defeat is also the defeat of Putin and Trump – no quick relief is promised for Ukraine

The Hungarian elections were watched exceptionally closely in Brussels on Sunday, because the fate and democratic future of the EU and NATO’s most pro-Russia country was at stake.

On Sunday evening, it turned out that the opposition leader Péter Magyarin Tisza party won a landslide victory in the Hungarian elections, which means that the prime minister who ruled the country for 16 years Viktor Orbánin and the reign of the Fidesz party ends.

On Sunday evening, Orbán also acknowledged his election defeat and congratulated Magyar.

Voter turnout in the elections rose to 77.8 percent, compared to 70.2 percent in the previous parliamentary elections. When almost all the votes had been counted, it seemed that Tisza would get the necessary two-thirds supermajority (138 seats) in the Hungarian parliament, which means that the power structures cemented by Orbán’s constitution can begin to be dismantled.

Hungary’s election result is a relief for many in the EU, for example because, under Orbán’s leadership, Hungary has promoted Russia’s cause in the EU and passed the Union’s secret information directly to the Kremlin.

One example of Orbán’s preference for Russia is that the prime minister announced in his October phone call that the Russian president Vladimir Putin with that he is in Putin’s service and that he helps him in every matter where he can be of help to Russia. Under Orbán’s leadership, Hungary has, among other things, canceled the EU’s 90 billion euro support loan to Ukraine and loosened and braked the sanctions against Russia.

Orbán’s specialty can also be considered to be that he has got both the presidents of Russia and the United States behind him.

On Friday, the President of the United States Donald Trump tried to influence the voting behavior of Hungarians by promising to strengthen the Hungarian economy if Orbán’s Fidesz party wins the election. In addition, the Vice President J.D. Vance visited Hungary before the election to show his support for Orbán.

In addition to favoring Russia, in recent years Orbán’s Hungary has been criticized in the EU for corruption, violation of the rule of law, narrowing of the independence of courts and media, and violation of the rights of civil society and minorities. Sunday’s election result is an opportunity to strengthen Hungary’s democratic structures.

Magyar, who leads the Tisza party, has promised that under his leadership, Hungary will restore functioning relations with the EU and stop sympathizing with Russia. The result also clearly shows that the Hungarians wanted to turn from east to west.

According to the Commission spokesperson, the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen talked with Magyar on Sunday evening and congratulated him. They also agreed on close cooperation. Von der Leyen also commented on the election result in X with several articles. He was happy that Hungary has chosen Europe, which makes the Union stronger. In addition, he set the mood by stating that “the heart of Europe beats stronger tonight in Hungary”.

Also the Chancellor of Germany Friedrich Merz rejoiced at Magyar’s victory and congratulated him.

“Let’s join forces for a strong, safe and, above all, united Europe,” Merz said in his X message.

Magyar has said that the first thing he wants to do is negotiate with the Commission so that Hungary can use the funds of about 20 billion euros frozen by the EU.

According to EU conditions, the release of funds would require ensuring the independence of Hungarian courts, rooting out corruption, and guaranteeing the independence of the media and non-governmental organizations.

For Ukraine, which is at war with Russia, Magyar’s election victory does not necessarily guarantee an easier future. For example, MEPs from the Tisza party did not support the EUR 90 billion support package that Ukraine needs in the EU Parliament vote.

In addition, according to a survey conducted before the elections, only a small majority of Tisza’s voters want a clearly different Ukraine policy than the one Orbán’s government has pursued.

Although Tisza’s election program is rhetorically pro-EU, the party opposes Ukraine’s accelerated EU membership, rejects the EU migration agreement and criticizes the Mercosur trade agreement and the EU’s next multi-year financial framework.

Sunday’s election result indicates that Magyar’s victory is an opportunity for Hungary’s EU relations to soften, but it still does not mean that the conflict with Hungary, which emphasizes national interest, will end completely.

The story is updated. At 00:39 updated vote count situation. The result was also updated on Monday at 7:38 am.