The outcome is expected to resonate among far-right movements around the world, which have seen Mr Orban as a beacon of how nationalist populism can be used to wage a culture war and leverage state power to weaken opponents. Members of Mr Trump’s ‘Make America Great Again’ (MAGA) movement are among those who have hailed Mr Orbán’s government and his Fidesz political party as shining examples of conservative, anti-globalist politics in action. Days before the elections in Hungary, US Vice President JD Vance visited the country and said he had come to “help” Mr Orbán.
The minority leader of the US House of Representatives, US Democrat Hakeem Jeffries, issued a warning to the Trump administration over the results.
Writing on social media, he said: “Far-right authoritarian Viktor Orbán has lost the election.
“The next showdown between Trump sycophants and MAGA extremists in Congress will be in November. Winter is coming.”
Mr Trump expressed his “complete and total support” for Mr Orbán before the election.
Before the election began, he said that if his colleague was re-elected he would bring American “economic strength” to the country.
Mr Orban, who is also an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, quickly conceded defeat, calling the election result “painful”.
Victor Mr Magyar campaigned against corruption and on everyday issues such as health care and public transport, while also promising to rebuild Hungary’s ties with the EU and NATO – relations that were strained under Mr Orban.
It is not yet clear whether the Tisza party has secured a two-thirds majority in the Hungarian parliament.
With 93% of the votes counted, Mr Orban’s ruling Fidesz party had support of over 53% and 37%.
It also looked set to win 94 of Hungary’s 106 voting districts.
Addressing thousands of supporters at a victory party along the Danube River in Budapest, Mr Magyar said: “Tonight, the truth overcame 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 got the answer. And you followed it.”
