On Monday morning, the Respekt website displayed the following message: “Orbán lost. And with him, Babiš and his coalition partners.” The editor-in-chief of the liberal weekly sees the Hungarian election results as good news for the Czech Republic and Europe.
The opposition party Tizsa won over 53% of the vote and 138 out of 199 seats in the Hungarian National Assembly, ending Viktor Orbán’s 16-year rule. This victory was accompanied by a record 78% voter turnout, giving the party a constitutional majority to implement necessary reforms.
The Czech leaders had mixed reactions to the election outcomes. Prime Minister Babiš, who had publicly supported Orbán, congratulated Péter Magyar on his victory. On the other hand, Foreign Minister Petr Macinka expressed disappointment over losing Orbán as an EU ally.
The Czech press is speculating on the implications of Magyar’s election on the Visegrád Group (V4) and potential collaborations in Central Europe. Magyar’s first trip abroad to Poland indicates possible improvements in relations between Budapest and Warsaw, hinting at a resurgence of regional cooperation.
Overall, the change in Hungary’s political landscape is seen as a significant victory that will impact the Czech Republic as well.
