Just days before historic elections, the visit of American Vice President J.D. Vance to Hungary aimed to throw the weight of the Trump administration behind Viktor Orbán. Despite trailing in the polls for months, his best ally in Europe faced a setback that the American intervention did not help overcome.
Last week, in front of thousands of Fidesz party supporters of Mr. Orbán, Mr. Vance tried to call his boss, hoping that Donald Trump would deliver his message directly. The first attempt was unsuccessful – the vice president reached the president’s voicemail. On a second call, Donald Trump finally answered, stating that he was with Mr. Orbán “until the end” and praising the outgoing prime minister’s “fantastic work.”
In response to this American offensive, opposition candidate Péter Magyar, elected as the head of the government on Sunday, declared that the election would not be decided in Washington, Brussels, or Moscow, but on the streets of Hungary.
A statement reflecting the campaign led by the 45-year-old politician, a former member of Viktor Orbán’s party who defected to create his own movement and denounce corruption in power.
Tisza, the party created by Mr. Magyar, focused on national political issues. The aspiring prime minister pledged to address Hungary’s stagnant economy, with GDP growth limited to 0.4% last year. He also promised to unlock European funds that had not yet been delivered to Hungary, with the EU citing democratic setbacks and minority rights issues in the country as reasons for withholding €17 to 18 billion.
On the other side, the outgoing prime minister, in power uninterrupted for 16 years, emphasized foreign policy. Posters by Viktor Orbán’s party placed his rival Péter Magyar alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Videos generated by artificial intelligence suggested that Hungary could be drawn into Russia’s war in Ukraine if the opposition won.
The focus on economic issues, coupled with power fatigue, seemed to pay off for Péter Magyar. Given the extent of his victory, his party will hold a supermajority of over two-thirds of parliament seats in Hungary.
At a press conference on Tuesday, the future prime minister accused his predecessor of being too focused on Russia, Ukraine, Iran, and American elections, neglecting issues such as health, education, and the cost of living. “I think this is the cause of his failure,” he said.
In the United States as well, domestic concerns outweigh international ones for voters. A YouGov survey in early April showed that inflation and prices were the top priority for 34% of Americans. Despite this, Donald Trump’s approval rating on economic issues was negative at -20%.
Despite the differences in political systems and dynamics, the Hungarian opposition’s strategy could inspire those seeking to defeat Donald Trump’s Republicans in the upcoming midterm elections in November.
Leading up to the Hungarian election, opposition forces rallied behind Péter Magyar, who rose through the ranks in Viktor Orbán’s circle before founding his own movement in 2024.
Although not a liberal, Péter Magyar is a conservative candidate supportive of strict immigration policies not far from those of the Orbán government. Yet, it was in him that the youth and the left placed their hopes.
Once in power, rivalries may resurface, but for the duration of a lengthy campaign, nearly all those who wanted to see Viktor Orbán defeated set aside their differences and focused on issues, especially economic ones, that resonate with a large number of voters. This strategy led to significant gains not only in Budapest but also in rural regions typically loyal to Mr. Orbán’s party.
On Sunday night, Viktor Orbán quickly acknowledged the election results and conceded victory to his opponent, unlike Donald Trump, who has still not accepted his defeat to Joe Biden in 2020.
With Viktor Orbán’s departure, Donald Trump loses his best ally in Europe. A prime minister critical of the EU, whose government was seen as a model in some circles close to the president.
Viktor Orbán was the first European leader to congratulate Donald Trump on his re-election in 2024 and had already been invited to the CPAC conference, the major gathering of the American right.
Two years later, Mr. Orbán’s defeat seems to be a lesson for Donald Trump on the importance of focusing on national issues to regain public favor.
But will this message go to voicemail?
