Who is Viktor Orbán? 

Viktor Orbán, the longest-serving leader in the European Union (EU), has served as Hungary’s prime minister (PM) since 2010. Prior to his 16-year-rule as PM, Orbán briefly held the same position from 1998 to 2002 before losing reelection. A member of the conservative Fidesz Party (Federation of Young Democrats), which was first founded in 1988 to counter Hungary’s communist government, Orbán has carried out significant actions as PM, including:

• Passing The Fundamental Law in 2011, a new one-party constitution that has been criticized for weakening the country’s court system (ex: lowering retirement age for sitting judges)
• Adopting an economic model that helped Hungary pay off its national debt in 2013 and reinvigorate its investment-grade status, or the status reflecting Hungary’s ability to meet its financial commitments
• Addressing the 2015 European refugee crisis by signing off on the construction of a 102-mile border fence between Hungary and Serbia that has paved the way for an anti-immigration policy recently ruled to be in violation of the EU’s asylum laws
• Gaining control of almost 500 Hungarian media outlets by decreeing the formation of the Central European Press and Media Foundation (CEPMF) in 2018
• Supporting new laws targeting Hungary’s LGBTQ+ population

What Were the Results of Hungary’s National Election?

On April 12, 2026, Orbán faced off against Péter Magyar, a former supporter of Orbán and a representative of the Tisza Party, in Hungary’s parliamentary election. With a 80% voter turnout rate, Hungarians chose not to reelect Orbán and the Fidesz Party, instead opting for Magyar, who campaigned on restoring ties between Hungary and the EU and passing anti-corruption reforms. In his concession speech, Orbán congratulated Magyar and said that he and the Fidesz Party would continue “to serve the Hungarian nation and our homeland from opposition.” A transition of power is expected as soon as early May, with Magyar planning to pursue a new constitutional amendment limiting Hungary’s prime minister to only two terms in office. The amendment, likely to pass as Magyar’s Tisza Party has secured more than the two-thirds majority in Parliament required to pass constitutional reforms, would prevent Orbán from running for office in the next election. 

Who Supported Viktor Orbán? 

Before losing reelection, Orbán saw support from notable world leaders. U.S. President Donald J. Trump, who is often compared to Orbán by critics, called Orbán a “fantastic man” and applauded his anti-immigration policies a week before Hungary’s election. Israel’s PM Benjamin Netanyahu endorsed Orbán’s reelection campaign, praising the former Hungarian PM for bringing “safety, security, stability” to Hungary and combating antisemitism. Some conservative organizations like the American Conservative Union (ACU) also backed Orbán, hailing him as “a leader with strong conservative values” who has taken a stand against the EU to protect his country. 

Who Opposed Viktor Orbán? 

Prior to his reelection bid, Viktor Orbán faced opposition from the EU, which removed Hungary’s “democracy” status and named the country a “hybrid regime of an electoral autocracy” in 2022. Other leaders of EU member nations, including Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, had individual grievances with Hungary’s former PM as well. This past March, Zelenskyy, whose country currently holds “candidate status” in the EU, threatened military force against the former PM if Hungary blocked the EU from sending Ukraine a loan package amid the Russia-Ukraine War. Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz previously criticized Orbán for meeting with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and undermining the EU’s unity, while the President of the European Commission (EC) Ursula von der Leyen called out Orbán’s migrant and tax policies. Groups like Reporters Without Borders (RSF) also voiced criticism of Orbán, describing him as “a predator of press freedom.”

How Will the Election Results Impact the United States? 

As Orbán prepares to leave office and make way for new PM Péter Magyar, the future of U.S.-Hungary relations hinges strongly on the actions of President Trump. Despite being embraced by leaders from countries like France and Great Britain, President Trump has not issued a comment on Magyar’s win. And although Magyar has shown a willingness to rebuild a bridge with the EU, President Trump has expressed the opposite, previously labeling the continent “weak” and “decaying” when the U.S. pursued unsuccessful efforts to end the war between Russia and Ukraine alone last year. But while Magyar and President Trump might not align on their future relationships with Europe, maintaining their distance could prove difficult in a globalized world.