Hungary election don shake Europe today as veteran leader Viktor Orban finally concede defeat after 16 years for power. The man wey dey rule since 2010 don see say voters don tire of im style, as results show say opposition Tisza party don win landslide victory.
Results wey dey based on 81.5 percent of votes counted show say Tisza party of Peter Magyar go win 137 seats for parliament. That one mean say dem go get crucial two-thirds majority for the 199-member National Assembly. Orban own Fidesz party don suffer serious blow.
“The election results are not final yet, but the situation is understandable and clear,” Orban talk for im campaign office. The 62-year-old leader address supporters wey gather outside, some of dem dey cry as dem watch am for TV screens. “The election result is painful for us, but clear,” Orban add.
This election matter don draw international attention because Orbin na strong ally of both US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. For Europe, many leaders dey happy say Orban don fall because im don be thorn for EU side for many years.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen even write say “Hungary has chosen Europe.” But make we no forget say even as Orban don lose, many of Hungary institutions still full of im loyalists. Slovak leader Robert Fico don vow to continue im anti-EU push even without im close partner.
Peter Magyar, the man wey defeat Orban, na 45-year-old conservative wey run on anti-corruption platform. Funny enough, Magyar na former ally of Orban wey dey inside Fidesz party for two decades before im leave for 2024 join Tisza. Im ex-wife Judit Varga even endorse Orban for this election over im ex-husband.
Both men dey right-wing and share hard-line anti-immigration stance, but dem differ for foreign policy. Magyar na supporter of European Union while Orban get friendly relationship with Putin. For this election, close to eight in ten eligible voters cast ballots, marking one of the highest turnouts for recent Hungarian election.
For Israel side, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar thank Peter Magyar for im victory and also thank Viktor Orban for im friendship and steady support of Israel. Orban defeat na setback for global right wey both Netanyahu and Trump dey prominent figures.
Many for left and center see Hungarian voters’ action as promising sign say such ambitions fit dey curbed for their own countries. Opposition leader Yair Lapid from Israel quick congratulate Magyar, say im hope say under Magyar leadership, relations between Israel and Hungary go continue to deepen.
Orban don serve combined 20 years as Hungary head of government, leading the Central European country for majority of time since dem end communist rule for 1989. Im enter this election as longest-serving European leader presently for power.
Trump don endorse Orban bid to win fifth consecutive term, write for Truth Social say “We are excited to invest in the future Prosperity that will be generated by Orbán’s continued Leadership!” Days before election, Vice President JD Vance travel to Hungary speak in support of the long-serving prime minister.
While delivering im remarks, Vance call Trump put the president on speakerphone address event attendees. “Viktor, I’ll tell you. He’s a fantastic man, we’ve had a tremendous relationship and he does the job,” Trump tell the crowd during Vance April 7 visit.
Magyar arguably campaign to the right of Orban on immigration issue, promise to cease the country guest worker program if elected. Im make headlines for February when im accuse Filipino guest workers for Hungary of capturing and eating ducks and goldfish from Budapest Zoo.
For Jewish community for Hungary, some voters say dem dey torn because of Orban support for Israel and their perception say Jews for Hungary dey safer than their counterparts for rest of Europe. Rabbi Joseph Frolich wey dey helm historic Dohany Street Synagogue for Budapest talk ahead of election say im no hear anything from Tisza about Jews, about Israel.
Even as im no be critic of Israel, Magyar no likely be as forceful ally of Netanyahu as Orban don be. Last year, Orban invite Netanyahu to Budapest partly to signal defiance against International Criminal Court wey don recently issue arrest warrant for Israeli prime minister.
Netanyahu no immediately comment publicly on election results, though im Diaspora minister Amichai Chikli wey don be big booster of Orban tweet say election results prove say Orban no be dictator as some of im critics don charge.
The election matter don show say voters don ready for change after 16 years of Orban rule. As Hungary enter new era, the world dey watch to see how this small European country go navigate im relationship with EU, Russia, and global powers.
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