Hungary's long-serving Prime Minister Viktor Orban has conceded defeat in the country's parliamentary election after partial official results indicated a landslide victory for Peter Magyar's Tisza party. Orban acknowledged that his Fidesz party secured 38.83% of the vote, while Magyar's party stood at 52.49% with 53.45% of precincts counted, marking a significant shift in the nation's political landscape.

Magyar posted on social media: "Prime Minister Viktor Orban just called to congratulate us on our victory." The announcement sparked jubilation among Magyar's supporters gathered along the Danube River in Budapest, where Al Jazeera correspondent Step Vaessen reported scenes of disbelief, stating, "It's all over for Viktor Orban after 16 years."

Orban told his followers that he had "congratulated the victorious party" following a "painful" but "clear" result, adding, "The responsibility and possibility of governing was not given to us." He pledged that Fidesz would continue to serve the Hungarian nation and homeland from the opposition, highlighting the challenges ahead for the former ruling party.

Partial counts show Tisza leading in 95 of Hungary's 106 constituencies, with the party projected to win over 130 mandates in the 199-seat parliament. Vaessen emphasized that the "comfortable two-thirds majority" expected for Magyar's party is "very important," as it would enable constitutional amendments, potentially reshaping Hungary's governance framework amid ongoing societal and economic tensions.

The National Election Office reported turnout exceeding 77% by 6:30 PM (16:30 GMT), a record high in any election in Hungary's post-Communist history. This unprecedented participation underscores deep-seated public engagement and dissatisfaction with the previous administration's policies, signaling a pivotal moment in Hungarian politics as the country grapples with internal divisions and external pressures from the EU and other international actors.

Source: www.aljazeera.com