On April 12, 2026, Hungary held parliamentary elections that ended in the sensational defeat of incumbent Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and his Fidesz party. After 16 years of uninterrupted rule, Orbán conceded defeat, congratulating the leader of the opposition Tisza party, Péter Magyar, on his decisive victory.
According to preliminary results, with a record turnout of approximately 78–80%, the Tisza party is set to win around two-thirds of seats in parliament (roughly 132–138 out of 199 mandates), while Fidesz suffered a crushing defeat, losing more than half of its parliamentary seats.
On the evening and night of April 12, central Budapest transformed into one vast celebration zone. Thousands of Magyar’s supporters and opposition voters poured into the streets, particularly along the Danube embankment opposite the parliament building. People danced, sang, honked their car horns, waved Hungarian and European flags, and chanted “We did it!” (“Megcsináltuk!”) and “Russians, go home!” (“Ruszkik haza!”). Some popped champagne straight into paper cups, while the Chain Bridge was lit up in the colors of the national flag.
The celebrations continued well past midnight — according to eyewitnesses and journalists, hundreds of people were still dancing on the Danube embankment at 4 o’clock in the morning. The atmosphere reminded many Hungarians of the events of 1989–1990 — the fall of the communist regime.
Péter Magyar, addressing the jubilant crowd, declared: “Today, truth has defeated lies. Hungarians did not ask what their country could do for them, but what they could do for their country — and they did it.”
Orbán described the result as “painful but clear” and promised that his party would continue its work in opposition.
This defeat has become one of the most significant political events in modern Europe: after 16 years of national-conservative leadership, Hungary may sharply change course in its domestic and foreign policy, particularly in its relations with the EU and on the question of support for Ukraine.