Hungary Shifts: Tisza Secures Supermajority, Orbán Era Ends

Hungary’s opposition Tisza party, led by Péter Magyar, won a landslide election victory that removed Prime Minister Viktor Orbán from power. The result delivered Tisza a “super majority” of 137 seats, giving the incoming government the parliamentary strength to amend the constitution and roll back policies introduced during Orbán’s time in office.

The shift is set to reshape Hungary’s positioning inside the European Union and could affect the country’s approach to international assistance, according to the details outlined around the transition. The scale of the parliamentary win is central because it enables rapid legal and institutional changes without needing support from other parties.

In the United States, Vice President JD Vance addressed his role in the campaign after he had backed Orbán five days before the vote. Vance defended his support and described Orbán as a “great guy,” while also saying he was confident the U.S. could work with Hungary’s new government despite the change in leadership.

Magyar, who had previously criticized foreign interference in Hungarian elections, struck a cooperative tone toward Washington after the result. He described the United States as a “strong and important” NATO partner and signaled openness to engagement with U.S. leadership.

Domestically, Magyar set out early priorities focused on governance and enforcement institutions. He said the new administration would establish an Anti-Corruption Office and a National Asset Recovery and Protection Office, and would begin the process for Hungary to join the EU’s European Public Prosecutor’s Office.

A major near-term objective is to unlock EU money currently withheld from Hungary. The figures cited include about 17 billion euros in frozen EU funding and a further 16 billion euros in defense loans, which were held back amid concerns over rule of law and democratic backsliding under the previous administration.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has engaged with Magyar and underscored the need to restore rule of law and align Hungary with shared European values. The interaction signals that the new government’s early steps on institutions and legal standards will be closely watched in Brussels as decisions on funding are considered.

Another immediate issue is Hungary’s veto on 90 billion euros in aid to Ukraine. The new government is expected to address that position, and Magyar has said the veto is not relevant, leaving uncertainty over how quickly Budapest’s stance could change and what procedural steps might follow.