Viktor Orbán’s election defeat was met with an enormous sigh of reduction, and a little bit of schadenfreude, in Brussels, as European officers hope a brand new Hungarian authorities will convey extra pro-European perspective to the desk.
Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission stated on social media that “Hungary has chosen Europe.”
“Europe has always chosen Hungary. Together, we are stronger. A country reclaims its European path. The Union grows stronger,” she stated.
Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament congratulated Péter Magyar on the victory, saying: “Hungary’s place is at the heart of Europe.”
The feedback from von der Leyen and Metsola should not shocking – Orbán has been an enormous ache for the European Union for many of his 16 years in energy, clashing with Brussels over an array of points. From migration legal guidelines to the EU’s assist for Ukraine, Orbán has repeatedly used procedural delays and the ability of veto to derail key agreements.
French President Emmanuel Macron, who has clashed with Orbán previously, stated on X that France welcomed “a victory which shows the attachment of the Hungarian people to the values of the European Union and for Hungary’s role in Europe.”
The German Chancellor Friedrich Mertz congratulated Magyar and stated: “Let’s join forces for a strong, secure and, above all, united Europe.”
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer known as Magyar’s win a “historic moment, not only for Hungary, but for European democracy.”
Kristen Michal, Estonian Prime Minister, stated “Hungarians have made a historic choice for a free and strong Hungary in a united Europe, rejecting forces that ignore their interests.”
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, stated the election “marks a new chapter in the history of Hungary.”
Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin congratulated Magyar on his victory and counseled “the Hungarian people who turned out in such high numbers to exercise their democratic choice in today’s elections.” Martin added that he hopes to strengthen Irish-Hungarian relations based mostly on their shared EU membership and values.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated: “Hungary. Poland. Europe. Back together!” Magyar advised a crowd of supporters tonight that Poland will probably be his first journey in a foreign country as prime minister.