The result is being tipped to reverberate among far-right movements around the world, which have viewed Mr Orbán as a beacon for how nationalist populism can be used to wage culture wars and leverage state power to undermine opponents. Members of Mr Trump’s ‘Make America Great Again’ (MAGA) movement are among those to have regarded Mr Orbán’s government and his Fidesz political party as shining examples of conservative, anti-globalist politics in action. Days before the election in Hungary, US Vice President JD Vance visited the country, saying he had come to “help” Mr Orbán.
US Democrat Hakeem Jeffries, the US House of Representatives minority leader, issued a warning to the Trump administration over the result.
Writing on social media, he said: “Far-right authoritarian Viktor Orbán has lost the election.
“Trump sycophants and MAGA extremists in Congress are up next in November. Winter is coming.”
Mr Trump voiced his “complete and total endorsement” of Mr Orbán ahead of the election.
Prior to the polls opening, he said he would bring US “economic might” to the nation if his ally was re-elected.
Mr Orbán, who is also an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, quickly conceded defeat following what he described as a “painful” election result.
Victor Mr Magyar campaigned against corruption and on everyday issues like health care and public transport, while also pledging to rebuild Hungary’s relationships with the European Union and NATO — ties that were strained under Mr Orbán.
It is not yet clear whether the Tisza party has secured a two-thirds majority in the Hungarian parliament.
With 93% of the vote counted, it had more than 53% support to 37% for Mr Orbán’s governing Fidesz party.
It also looked set to win 94 of Hungary’s 106 voting districts.
In a speech to tens of thousands of supporters at a victory party along the Danube River in Budapest, Mr Magyar said: “Tonight, truth prevailed over lies. Today, we won because Hungarians didn’t ask what their homeland could do for them — they asked what they could do for their homeland. You found the answer. And you followed through.”
