‘Hungary has chosen Europe’: EU leaders jubilant after Péter Magyar’s victory over Orbán

EU leaders heaped praise on Péter Magyar after his decisive election victory in Hungary against the long-serving prime minister Viktor Orbán, who many saw as a direct threat to Europe’s peace and prosperity.

The outpouring reflected a deep frustration with Orbán across the EU’s 27 member states and its institutions.

“Today Europe wins and European values win,” said the Spanish prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, in a post on X on Sunday night. The Polish prime minister, Donald Tusk, wrote on social media: “Hungary Poland Europe Back together! Glorious victory, dear friends! Ruszkik haza!”. Ruszkik haza translates into English as “Russians, go home”.

Orbán’s 16-year grip on power has tested the EU system of governance meant to ensure peace through economic and political integration after the devastation of the first and second world wars. Claiming he sought to advance the national interests of Hungarians over strategy forged in Brussels, Orbán time and again vetoed collective action such as support for Ukraine after Russia’s all-out invasion.

Recently, the far-right leader’s government outraged EU leaders and officials when it admitted to providing a backchannel to Russia during summits.

In a recent interview, Magyar told the Associated Press that if elected, he would repair Hungary’s relationship with the EU. However, he has carefully avoided taking firm positions on a number of divisive issues during the election campaign – including Orbán’s anti-LGBTQ+ policies and whether Hungary should extend more support to Ukraine.

“All Hungarians know that this is a shared victory. Our homeland made up its mind. It wants to live again. It wants to be a European country,” Magyar said in his victory speech from the banks of the Danube in Budapest, Hungary’s capital.

There was no reaction from the White House on Sunday night and no comment from the US vice-president, JD Vance, who had campaigned for Orbán in Budapest earlier in the week, openly admitting he was in Hungary on an “unprecedented” trip to help him win the election.

Magyar said he had received calls on Sunday night from the French president, Emmanuel Macron, Nato’s secretary-general, Mark Rutte, the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, and the European Commission’s president, Ursula von der Leyen.

Slovakia’s prime minister, Robert Fico, one of Orbán closest international alliles, congratulated Magyar on winning the election. Fico said Slovakia was ready for intensive cooperation and that protecting energy interests remained a key goal.

Congratulations also flowed in online from the British prime minister, Keir Starmer, the Irish prime minister, Micheál Martin, the Swedish prime minister, Ulf Kristersson, and the European parliament’s speaker, Roberta Metsola. The Danish prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, the Romanian president, Nicușor Dan, and the European Council president, António Costa, also posted well-wishes, as did Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Starmer said: “This is an historic moment, not only for Hungary, but for European democracy.”

“France welcomes the victory of democratic participation, the Hungarian people’s commitment to the values of the European Union, and Hungary’s commitment to Europe,” Macron said.

Merz said: “Let’s join forces for a strong, secure and, above all, united Europe.”

Peter Magyar makes his victory speech in Hungary

Zelenskyy said Ukraine was ready to work with Hungary. “Europe and every European nation must get stronger, and millions of Europeans seek cooperation and stability,” he said. “We are ready for meetings and joint constructive work for the benefit of both nations, as well as peace, security and stability in Europe.”

Kristersson referenced both the EU and Nato in his congratulations to Magyar: “I look forward to working closely with you – as allies and EU members. This marks a new chapter in the history of Hungary.”

Slovenia’s liberal prime minister, Robert Golob, congratulated Magyar, saying his “victory over rightwing populism is also a great victory for the EU and its future”.

Golob said: “Only a more united and more effective EU will be able to respond to the extremely serious challenges of the times ahead.”

The Israeli opposition politician Yair Lapid, a descendent of Hungarian Jews who survived the Holocaust, also congratulated Magyar.

Von der Leyen, who like many EU officials had avoided any public position on the Hungarian election, posted on X: “Hungary has chosen Europe. Europe has always chosen Hungary. Together, we are stronger. A country returns to its European path. The Union grows stronger.”

Orbán had vilified the Brussels-based EU executive and frequently stymied Von der Leyen’s agenda.

The European People’s party president, Manfred Weber, also a frequent target of Orbán, said on social media: “Hungary is back at the heart of Europe.”

Orbán supporters also commented on the outcome of the vote.

The Italian prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, congratulated Magyar but also thanked Orbán for “intense collaboration for these years”.

The far-right French politician, Jordan Bardella, seen as a nationally competitive politician in the 2027 French elections, praised Orbán’s record on populist causes in a post on X. He made no mention of Magyar.

The Guardian wp:paragraph