By Our Correspondent

National News – Péter Magyar has secured a historic landslide victory in Hungary’s general election, defeating long-time Prime Minister Viktor Orbán after 16 years in power.

The vote, held on Sunday with a record turnout of 79.5%, saw Magyar’s Tisza party projected to win about 138 parliamentary seats, surpassing the two-thirds majority needed to reshape the constitution.

Orbán’s Fidesz party trailed with 55 seats, marking a dramatic political shift.

Magyar, 45, a former insider of Orbán’s political circle, campaigned across cities and rural communities, promising to tackle corruption, restore judicial independence, and dismantle entrenched patronage networks.

His message resonated widely among voters dissatisfied with years of alleged cronyism and economic inequality.

Shortly after early results emerged, Orbán conceded defeat in a phone call, later publicly acknowledging the outcome as “clear and painful.”

Celebrations erupted across the capital, Budapest, as supporters gathered near the Danube River, waving national flags and cheering what many described as a turning point in the country’s democratic history.

Magyar declared the result a collective victory, pledging sweeping reforms in education, healthcare, and governance.

On foreign policy, Magyar signaled a decisive shift.

He plans to strengthen ties with the European Union and Ukraine while distancing Hungary from Russia, reversing Orbán’s long-standing alignment with Vladimir Putin.

He also aims to unlock billions in frozen EU funds tied to governance concerns.

Analysts say the outcome reflects a clash between two political realities—one shaped by pro-government narratives and another driven by growing public demand for change.

Magyar’s rapid rise and electoral success mark a significant transformation in Hungary’s political landscape, with implications for Europe at large.