海角大神

Car horns were honking, and people were dancing in the streets of Budapest all around her, yet Juli Kepes was still not sure she could believe it.

Prime Minister Viktor Orb谩n had lost.

More than that, the man who had ruled Hungary for 16 years, often with what critics felt was the clenched fist of autocracy, brooking no dissent, had been politically routed. His opponent鈥檚 party, formed only two years ago, was on course for a two-thirds majority 鈥� strong enough even to amend the constitution.

The result is one that will send tremors far beyond Hungary or even Europe.

Mr. Orb谩n was an admitted hero and trailblazer for resurgent right-wing politicians from Finland to Germany. He was held up by U.S. President Donald Trump鈥檚 administration as a model of what Europe could (and should) be. And he was obstructor in chief for the European Union: Russia鈥檚 most loyal friend, a vetoer of all things pro-Ukrainian, and a standard-bearer for those who feel the EU is perpetually undermining the sovereignty of its member nations.

Now, he has been ousted in a defeat far more comprehensive than the polls or pundits imagined possible. With more than 98% of the vote counted early Monday morning, the opposition Tisza party of P茅ter Magyar was headed for 138 seats in parliament. Mr. Orb谩n鈥檚 Fidesz party was on track for 55, and the far-right Our Homeland party set for six.

Ms. Kepes was stunned.

鈥淲e are in shock,鈥� she said at an election-night watch party. 鈥淗onestly, it鈥檚 something that is very difficult to grasp.鈥�

The election brought out a record number of voters, with Hungary鈥檚 youth appearing to play a pivotal role. High inflation and a stagnant economy have forced many to look abroad for jobs.

But 16 years of what Mr. Orb谩n himself said was an increasingly 鈥渋lliberal democracy鈥� also seemed to have taken a toll. Some revelers Sunday night couldn鈥檛 quite grasp that they were being able to express themselves openly. Critics have accused Mr. Orb谩n of dramatically curtailing free speech rights, as well as the rights of the press and the independence of the judiciary.

鈥淲e are really excited,鈥� Ms. Kepes added. 鈥淲e can鈥檛 wait to see what will happen in an open and free Hungary.鈥�

At times during Sunday night鈥檚 celebration, chants of 鈥淓urope鈥� and 鈥淩ussians go home!鈥� could be heard among the crowds, from squares to teeming metro stations. In his victory speech, Mr. Magyar declared that Hungarians had said 鈥測es to Europe.鈥�

Certainly, Andr谩s Szenes did.

The mathematician and university professor said the result was not just 鈥渁n amazing evening for all Hungarians ... but also a new day for Europe.鈥�

鈥淚t will mean a shift in the Russian influence in European politics,鈥� he said from the same election watch party. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a shift in power, and a shift in the direction of unity of the European Union.鈥�

Numerous European leaders agreed, with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer calling it 鈥渁n historic moment ... for European democracy.鈥�

Not surprisingly, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy similarly hailed Mr. Magyar鈥檚 win in a post on the social platform X, calling it a victory for a 鈥渃onstructive approach.鈥�

Mr. Orb谩n had made Ukraine a centerpiece of his campaign, arguing that the war was not in Hungary鈥檚 interests. In the EU, Mr. Orb谩n has repeatedly stalled or blocked efforts to help Ukraine.

For Mr. Orb谩n鈥檚 supporters, the results suggest that perhaps Hungary was not the bulwark of far-right politics that they had hoped it was.

Speaking at an election night rally for Fidesz, a man who shared only his first name, B谩lint, said, 鈥淚 am disappointed because I thought we were doing better.鈥�

To him, Hungary was a beacon for a Europe that has lost its way. Fidesz was 鈥渁gainst the migrants. They were against 鈥榳oke鈥� and the liberal nonsense.鈥�

鈥淲e are the last bastion of this 海角大神-democratic thinking in Europe, and we thought that the future of Europe is not based on Brussels, the EU thinking,鈥� he added. 鈥淲e thought that Europe is based on the strong nations.鈥�

Mr. Orb谩n accepted the result early, calling Mr. Magyar to concede by 9:30 p.m. local time. He called the result of the election 鈥渃lear and painful鈥� but vowed to fight on. 鈥淲e never give up. This is one thing people know about us: We never give up.鈥�

This story was supported by reporting from Budapest, Hungary.