In a monumental win, the Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orbán was voted out of office after 16 years of retaining power. His opposition, Peter Magyar, is a centre-right lawyer who ran with an anti-populist agenda and won a historic supermajority in the country’s parliament. 

Here is how Magyar won this race and what the implications of this win are: 

Who is Viktor Orban?

Viktor Orbán, the incumbent Prime Minister of Hungary, is a lawyer and politician from the country’s far right and Christian nationalist party Fidesz. He became the PM in 2010 and was re-elected in 2014, 2018 and 2022, making him the country’s longest serving Prime Minister, holding onto power for 16 years. 

Orban’s policies follow the lead of many right-wing politicians around the world: soft Euroscepticism, populism and national conservatism.  

According to Politico, Orbán’s political philosophy “echoes the resentments of what were once the peasant and working classes” by promoting an “uncompromising defence of national sovereignty and a transparent distrust of Europe’s ruling establishments.” 

Since Orban’s election in 2010, Hungary has seen weakened judicial independence, democratic backsliding increased corruption and more oversight over the press and media organisations. 

Orban’s other policies include opposition to migration and asylum policies of the EU, reduced rights of the LGBTQ+ community and education surrounding these policies. Orban wanted to create an ‘illiberal state’ in opposition to a liberal democracy, promoting his ties to nations like Turkey, China and Russia. 

Who is Peter Magyar? 

Peter Magyar is a Hungarian politician and lawyer from the Tisza Party who led them to victory after securing a supermajority in the 2026 elections. He had previously served in the European Parliament as an MEP (Member of the European Parliament) 

Magyar was a former member of the Fidesz Party and resigned from all his government posts after a political scandal in 2024, saying that he was “deeply unhappy with the way that Fidesz was governing the nation.” 

He also expressed his desire to form a political party to challenge the establishment and become the opposition. Magyar describes himself as a “conservative liberal and critical pro-European leader.” His policies emphasise civic responsibility, national culture, the rule of law and a focus on combining market-oriented economic views. 

He is also a strong supporter of adopting the euro in Hungary and argues that it will strengthen financial stability and improve the nation’s position in the EU. He also supports alignment with Western democratic values and pro-European views.  

He has also voiced his criticism against the Orbán government’s confrontational stance towards EU institutions and its close relations with Russia. 

How did Magyar win the election?  

Magyar’s centre-right party Tisza secured 183 seats in the 199-seat parliament of Hungary. Meanwhile, Orban’s Fidesz won only 55 seats, giving Magyar the supermajority, securing him the victory as well as the Prime Minister’s office. 

The election delivered a two-thirds majority vote and a voter turnout of almost 80 per cent. The last time this happened was when Hungary’s communist dictatorship was overthrown in 1989/90. 

In a surprising turn of events, Orban conceded the election without any protest on 12th April after the results were announced. 

What is the significance of this election and why is the world watching this time?

A change in the Prime Minister’s office helps the EU’s foreign policy in the region, particularly with the crisis in Russia and Ukraine. With Orban consistently using his veto powers in the EU, there has been a big delay in foreign aid to Ukraine. With Magyar’s supermajority, there is space for immediate change. 

With this loan package getting approved for Ukraine, Hungary’s position on the conflict becomes neutral. This does not mean that Magyar’s government is in full agreement with Ukraine, it does indicate a step in the right direction as it opens the door for the EU and NATO to provide aid to Ukraine when necessary. It also paves the way for other nations in the EU to step out of the shadow of Hungary’s veto and make their stance on the crisis clear. 

Over the last 16 years, Hungary’s economy has been on the downturn due to Orban’s economic policies. Magyar has promised to open up previously frozen EU aid to Hungary and more foreign investment in the nation. 

Analysts at JPMorgan expect a reset in relations with the EU to take place almost immediately and say early commitments to reform are likely to be enough to start unlocking the frozen EU money. 

One of Magyar’s main policy promises was reducing the dependency of Hungary on Russian oil and gas by 2035. This is a sharp turn from Orban’s policies, as he was a great friend to Russia. 

Magyar aims to “seek a balanced relationship with the Russian Federation.” Magyar will have to navigate this issue with some care as Hungary’s population still depends on the oil coming from Russia for their energy needs. 

But when it comes to migration and international refugee policies, Magyar remains steadfast in his refusal to implement EU policy. This might indicate that Hungary’s place in the EU regarding these issues might remain a problem in the future. 

What about India’s investments in Hungary?  

India and Hungary have shared a very productive bilateral relationship, with Indian companies investing over $2 billion dollars in the country and providing over 10,000 jobs. 

Indian companies that specialise in R&D, automotive components, healthcare, machine tools, agriculture machinery, non-conventional energy and electrical equipment, electronics, information technology, pharmaceuticals, higher education, entertainment, etc., have invested in Hungary over the years. 

Companies like Sun Pharma, Apollo Tyres, Orion Electronics, TCS, Wipro, Cognizant, Birla Carbon, etc., all have long-standing investments in the country. 

Prime Minister Modi was quick to congratulate Magyar, noting, “the ‘deep-rooted friendship’ and shared values between India and Hungary.” With Magyar’s promises to repair relations with the EU, India and Hungary’s bilateral partnership will serve as a framework for those relationships, with the aim of improved and transparent cooperation.  

With the hope that EU aid will flow freely back into Hungary, foreign companies stand to gain an advantage across many sectors. 

Published on April 18, 2026