Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán ousted after 16 years following record of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation

Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán has been voted out of office after 16 years in power, following a decisive parliamentary election victory for opposition leader Péter Magyar.

With more than 98% of votes counted, Magyar’s Tisza party secured 138 of 199 seats in parliament, while Orbán’s Fidesz party won 55, giving the opposition a two-thirds majority. 

Orbán conceded defeat after the result became clear, ending a period in which he had led Hungary continuously since 2010. 

Turnout exceeded 77%, one of the highest levels recorded in recent Hungarian elections.

Magyar campaigned on anti-corruption reforms, increased funding for public services and closer alignment with the European Union.

What anti-LGBTQ+ legislation did Viktor Orbán introduce?

During Orbán’s time in office, his government introduced legislation affecting LGBTQ+ people, including a 2021 law restricting the depiction of homosexuality and transgender people in content accessible to minors. The government also amended the constitution to define marriage as between a man and a woman and limited legal recognition for the trans community.

Orbán’s administration faced ongoing disputes with the European Union over rule-of-law concerns, including media regulation and judicial independence. EU funding to Hungary was partially frozen during this period.

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen celebrated Magyar’s victory, writing on X, “A country reclaims its European path. The Union grows stronger. Hungary has chosen Europe. Europe has always chosen Hungary. Together we are stronger.”

Keir Starmer said Magyar’s victory marked “an historic moment, not only for Hungary, but for European democracy”.

Péter Magyar’s majority gives his party the ability to pass legislation without support from other parties

Domestic issues also featured in the campaign, including inflation and pressure on public services.

Magyar’s majority gives his party the ability to pass legislation without support from other parties and opens the possibility of constitutional changes.

Crowds gathered in Budapest following the result, where supporters of the opposition marked the outcome late into the evening.