A Change of Power in Budapest

Preliminary election results in Hungary point to a historic victory for the opposition and a defeat for Viktor Orbán's government.

"Everyone feared there was a trend towards authoritarian, corrupt regimes. No, that is not the case. First Warsaw, then Bucharest, Chișinău, and now Budapest. I am glad that this part of Europe is showing that we are not condemned to corrupt and authoritarian rule, because Viktor Orbán's government had, unfortunately, become exactly that after many years in power," Donald Tusk assessed.

The Hungarian opposition had an extraordinarily difficult path to electoral victory, forced to contend with formidable political headwinds.

"This is impressive. It is a beacon for all those who do not believe in their own strength. Every conceivable force conspired against Péter Magyar, including our own President Nawrocki and Chairman Kaczyński, not to mention more powerful figures. Anyone who doubts themselves has a brilliant lesson here: you must always believe in victory, and anything is possible," the Prime Minister noted.

Even before the election, Péter Magyar had announced that Poland would be the destination for his first foreign visit. In Donald Tusk's view, Warsaw's relationship with Budapest will have a special character.