Hungary’s Viktor Orbán stumbles in EU election

Sunday’s result is “a huge victory for Péter Magyar and a huge failure for Fidesz,” said Péter Krekó, executive director at the independent Political Capital think tank. “Fidesz has a real challenger.”

A former Fidesz party official and ex-husband of former Hungarian Justice Minister Judit Varga, Magyar galvanized voters by railing against corruption and Orbán’s regime after throwing his hat into the ring earlier this year. He has vowed to take back the billions in EU funds destined for Hungary that have been frozen by Brussels over rule of law concerns.

“This is the Waterloo of the Orbán power factory, the beginning of the end,” Magyar said after the result.

“Two elections were held today, and we won both,” retorted Orbán at a post-election rally in Budapest, in reference to Hungary’s local election that took place the same day. “We have won important victories in a difficult battle.”

The vote was also marked by high turnout, with 58.7 percent turning up to the ballot box on Sunday, compared to 43.4 percent in the 2019 EU election.