Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban admitted defeat in the legislative elections after 16 years in office. With votes counted in about 67% of constituencies, the opposition Tisza party, led by Peter Magyar, is expected to win 137 seats, more than two-thirds of the 199 parliamentary seats. The elections on Sunday were closely watched across Europe and the United States. Orban, who was seeking a fifth consecutive term, had transformed Hungary into a model of 'illiberal democracy' and had publicly clashed with Brussels over the rule of law and support for Ukraine. Magyar, who entered politics just two years ago, promised to fight corruption and provide better public services. After the results were announced, Magyar told his supporters in Budapest: 'We did it... together, we overthrew the Orban system, together we freed Hungary, we reclaimed our homeland.' In response to Magyar's victory, congratulations came from the European Union, Germany, France, and Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron stated that France welcomes 'the victory of democratic participation' and 'the Hungarian people's commitment to the values of the European Union'.
