Netanyahu-Trump ally defeated in Hungary's presidential election
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has conceded defeat in the general election, after preliminary official results showed Peter Maguire's opposition party advancing.
Orban, a close ally of Trump and Netanyahu, said the election result was clear and painful, and that he congratulated the winning party, adding that he would serve his nation from a position of opposition and would never give up.
The defeat is likely to end Hungary's opposition role within the EU, paving the way for a €90 billion ($105 billion) EU loan for war-torn Ukraine, which the prime minister has been blocking, and could also pave the way for the eventual release of EU funds for Hungary, which the bloc has suspended due to what Brussels has called Orbán's lack of democratic standards.
Two polls have previously shown that Hungary's opposition Tessa party could win Sunday's general election, inflicting a historic defeat on veteran Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a nationalist ally of Russia who also has the backing of U.S. President Donald Trump.
The polls, the latest before voting began and published after polls closed today, showed the center-right opposition opposition party Tessa led by Peter Majar winning about 55 to 57 percent of the vote, ahead of Orbán's Young Democrats Alliance (Fides).
Orbán is considered a permanent ally of the Israeli occupation, as he has a strong relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and he used his veto power within the European Union to prevent the issuance of statements condemning Israel or imposing sanctions on it, especially after the massacres committed by the occupation on the Gaza Strip.
Obama celebrates the loss of Trump's ally and Netanyahu
Former US President Barack Obama on Monday celebrated the results of Hungary's parliamentary elections on Sunday, which were won by the opposition.
Obama said in a post via X that the opposition's victory was "a victory for democracy," adding, "The opposition's victory in Hungary yesterday, as was the case in the Polish elections in 2023, is a victory for democracy, not only in Europe but around the world."
"Above all, it is a testament to the resilience and determination of the Hungarian people – and a reminder to all of us to continue to strive for justice, equality and the rule of law," he added.
Economic recession weakens Orbán
Orbán, a nationalist skeptical of the European Union, has modeled what is known as "illiberal democracy," which is seen as a reference for the "Make America Great Again" movement espoused by US President Donald Trump and his admirers in Europe.
But many Hungarians are growing increasingly fed up with Orbán, 62, after three years of economic stagnation and the rising cost of living, as well as reports of increasingly wealthy influential businessmen close to the government, and Magar seems to have exploited that frustration.
Mihaly Paci, 27, cast his vote for Tessa in the Hungarian capital, saying the country needed to change, adding: "We need to improve the public mood, there is a lot of tension in many areas, and the current government is doing nothing but inflame these feelings."
The election marks a major shift in Hungary after 16 years of rule by Orbán, who was considered a close ally of President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.