Issued on: 12/04/2026 - 16:57Modified: 13/04/2026 - 00:01
The outgoing Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban conceded defeat in Sunday’s election and congratulated his opponent Peter Magyar during a brief speech at his campaign headquarters. The election saw record turnout, with young people turning out in large numbers. Read about the day’s events as they unfolded on our liveblog.
This live page is no longer being updated. For more of our coverage of the Hungarian elections, click here.
Magyar likely to have supermajority in parliament
According to data from the Electoral Office, with over 95 percent of votes counted, Peter Magyar’s Tisza party can claim 138 of the 199 seats in the Hungarian parliament, giving it a two-thirds super-majority that leaves it free to pursue constitutional reforms.
Viktor Orban’s Fidesz has secured 55 seats and the far-right Mi Hazank Mozgalom party 6 seats.
Poland's Tusk hails Hungary vote result with 'Russians, go home!'
Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk welcomed the victory of Peter Magyar in Hungary's legislative elections with a jibe at defeated Prime Minister Viktor Orban's ties with Russia.
"Back together! Glorious victory, dear friends!" he posted on X, adding in Hungarian: "Russians, go home!"
Provisional results (over 90% of votes counted)
The official website of the Hungarian National Election Office has published provisional results based on over 90 percent of the votes counted.
Fidesz, Viktor Orbán’s party, has secured 37.65 percent of the vote, compared with 53.74 percent for Tisza, Peter Magyar’s party.
🎥 Magyar declares landslide victory
Hungary's opposition leader Peter Magyar declared victory, saying his Tisza party was poised for a strong two-thirds majority in the election, and would unite all Hungarians.
"We have done it, Tisza and Hungary have won this election," Magyar told cheering thousands of supporters along the embankment by the river Danube. "In the history of democratic Hungary, this many people have never voted before, and no single party has ever received such a strong mandate as Tisza."
FRANCE 24’s special correspondent Clovis Casali has more.
Zelensky congratulates Magyar on election victory, says 'constructive approach' triumphed
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky congratulated Peter Magyar on his "resounding victory", pledging to work with the country's new leadership "for the benefit of both nations".
"Congratulations to (Peter Magyar) and the TISZA party on their resounding victory ... We are ready for meetings and joint constructive work for the benefit of both nations, as well as peace, security, and stability in Europe," Zelensky said in a post on X.
Magyar says 'liberated Hungary' with election win
Peter Magyar hailed a "historic mandate to govern" following his party's election win over that of nationalist long-time premier Viktor Orban.
"We did it ... Together, we brought down the Orban regime – together," the former government insider, 45, told cheering supporters in Budapest. "We liberated Hungary; we took back our homeland."
Italy's Meloni congratulates Hungary's Magyar on 'clear victory'
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni congratulated Hungary's Peter Magyar on his "clear election victory", promising her country's continued cooperation and wishing him success.
"I thank my friend Viktor Orban for the intense collaboration over the years, and I know that he will continue to serve his nation, also from the opposition," the far-right leader said in a statement on X.
"Italy and Hungary are nations linked by a deep bond of friendship, and I am certain that we will continue to collaborate constructively in the interests of our peoples and address common challenges at the European and international levels."
🎥 Magyar's supporters celebrate victory in Budapest streets
FRANCE 24’s special correspondent Clovis Casali describes the jubilation among opposition supporters before Peter Magyar addressed his supporters on the banks of the Danube.
The crowd booed Viktor Orban when his face appeared on giant screens set up along the river, as the Prime Minister conceded defeat.
UK's Starmer congratulates Hungary's Magyar on 'historic' win
Spain's Sanchez hails Hungary election a win for 'European values'
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez welcomed the victory of conservative Peter Magyar in legislative elections as a victory for European values.
"Today, Europe and European values won," he wrote in a post on X. "Congratulations to all Hungarians citizens on a historic election."
"Looking forward to working together ... for a better future for all Europeans," he added.
🎥 Election victor Magyar's party could get a supermajority in Hungarian parliament
It's not yet clear whether Magyar’s Tisza party will have the two-thirds majority in parliament to govern without a coalition. With 77 percent of the vote counted, it had more than 53 percent support to 38 percent for Orban’s governing Fidesz party.
FRANCE 24's Europe editor Armen Georgian has more from Budapest:
European leaders welcome Magyar's victory
Messages of congratulations are pouring in on the social media platform X. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, and their Lithuanian and Latvian counterparts have all congratulated the winner of the Hungarian elections.
Germany's Merz congratulates Magyar for victory in Hungary
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz offered his "heartfelt congratulations" to Hungarian opposition leader Peter Magyar for his victory.
"I am looking forward to working with you," Merz said in a post on the X platform addressed to Magyar, adding: "Let's join forces for a strong, secure and, above all, united Europe."
📷 In images: Hungarians react to partial election results
People react after the announcement of partial results of the parliamentary election in Budapest on April 12, 2026. © Marton Monus, Reuters
Supporters wait for Peter Magyar, leader of the opposition Tisza party, after the announcement of partial results of the parliamentary election in Budapest on April 12, 2026. © Leonhard Foeger, Reuters
A person reacts after the announcement of partial results of the parliamentary election in Budapest on April 12, 2026. © Marton Monus, Reuters
Provisional results as of 9.30pm: Tisza 52.80% / Fidesz 38.55%
The official website of the Hungarian National Election Office has released provisional results based on just under 50 percent of the votes counted.
Viktor Orban’s party, Fidesz, currently stands at 38.55 percent of the vote, compared with 52.80 percent for Peter Magyar’s party, Tisza.
Macron congratulates Magyar on election victory
French President Emmanuel Macron said he had spoken to Peter Magyar to congratulate him for his victory in the Hungarian election.
"I’ve just spoken with Peter Magyar to congratulate him on his victory in Hungary!," wrote Macron on X.
"France welcomes what has been a victory in terms of people taking part in the democratic process, and a victory which shows the attachment of the Hungarian people to the values of the European Union and for Hungary's role in Europe," added Macron.
EU chief von der Leyen hails Magyar victory
The head of the European Union, Ursula von der Leyen, welcomed the defeat of Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban in legislative elections.
"Europe's heart is beating stronger in Hungary tonight," she posted on X, in English and in Hungarian.
"Hungary has chosen Europe. Europe has always chosen Hungary," she added. "A country reclaims its European path. The Union grows stronger."
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban concedes defeat after 'painful' election result, ending 16 years in power
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban conceded defeat after what he called a ″painful″ election result, ending 16 years in power.
“I congratulated the victorious party,″ Orban told supporters in Budapest. “We are going to serve the Hungarian nation and our homeland from opposition as well.”
Magyar says Orban called to 'congratulate us on our victory' in Hungary polls
Peter Magyar said Viktor Orban has conceded defeat in Hungarian parliamentary elections.
"Prime Minister Viktor Orban just called to congratulate us on our victory," Magyar posted on social media, as Magyar's Tisza party stood at 52.49 percent and Fidesz 38.83 percent with 53.45 percent of precincts counted.
Hungary's opposition Tisza party seen winning two-thirds majority with 45.7% of votes counted
Hungary's opposition Tisza party is projected to win 135 mandates in the 199-seat parliament, a two-thirds majority, based on partial results with 45.7 percent of votes counted, the national election office (NVI) said.
Prime Minister Viktor Orban's Fidesz party would get 57 mandates based on the current standing.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, Reuters and AP)
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