Orbán’s era was over in a flash and Hungary’s next PM is a man in a hurry

Following a decisive victory, Péter Magyar’s Tisza party has swiftly moved to secure the transition of power in Hungary after their resounding defeat of Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz on Sunday. With 52% of the vote, they ended the ruling party’s 16-year dominance, translating to up to 140 seats in the 199-member National Assembly. Fidesz, once holding 135 seats, now faces a sharp decline to approximately 55. The final tally will be confirmed by Saturday, including recounts in closely contested districts and votes from overseas.

Magyar has secured a commitment from President Tamás Sulyok to accelerate the creation of the new parliament to the week starting 4 May. This allows the legislature to promptly elect the next government. He has also engaged in assertive media appearances, addressing public service TV and radio outlets that have either sidelined or criticized him over the past two years. Magyar pledged to enact legislation suspending their broadcasts until unbiased editors are appointed.

“This is the end of an era,” said Hungary’s former leader, Viktor Orbán, in a rare statement late Thursday. He expressed “pain and emptiness” over the defeat, taking full personal accountability. However, he offered little insight into the campaign’s core missteps, aside from the delayed Paks 2 nuclear power station, which remains six years behind schedule.

Magyar’s strategy includes leveraging a supermajority of over two-thirds of parliamentary seats to retroactively cap the number of terms a prime minister can hold at two. Orbán, who has already served five, could be blocked from returning. The Tisza leaders also aim to instill a sense of urgency, emphasizing both emotional and political retaliation against Fidesz.

Internal Reckoning and Leadership Uncertainty

Fidesz’s top leadership is set to convene on 28 April, preceding a party congress in June. Orbán hinted at a potential leadership change, stating the party needed “a complete renewal” if re-elected. He acknowledged the need for reform but suggested patience, as some within the party call for a national caucus before deciding on a new leader.

Orbán, 63 next month, has faced growing scrutiny over his 38 years in frontline politics. His age and the wear on his reputation are evident even to loyal supporters. Meanwhile, Tisza’s supporters have taken to social media, demanding justice for those enriched illegally under the previous administration. Péter Magyar’s Facebook post serves as a rallying cry:

“My message to Fidesz leaders and their stooges: It’s no use playing the innocent little ballet girl now, and acting as if nothing happened. We know what you’ve done to our beloved homeland and the Hungarian people. And don’t doubt for a single moment that ‘you will reap what you sow’.”

Across Budapest, Fidesz posters have been vandalized. Many now bear the word “Vége” — meaning “end” — spray-painted in bold. Others have been torn and replaced with curses. This sudden shift in public perception marks a dramatic fall from grace for the party, even among some of its former allies. Magyar’s team appears poised to capitalize on this momentum, moving quickly to reshape Hungary’s political landscape.