Overview
- Hungary ousted Viktor Orbán as Péter Magyar’s center‑right Tisza party won a two‑thirds majority, with record turnout reported and a swift concession from Orbán.
- Magyar pledged to restore checks and balances and rebuild ties with the European Union and NATO, with reporting noting he favors smoother EU decision‑making and support for Ukraine financing.
- Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni rebuked President Trump’s attacks on Pope Leo XIV as unacceptable, while Marine Le Pen criticized his Iran war as a mistake and Nigel Farage played down his closeness to Trump.
- Trump‑aligned outreach backfired in Hungary as Vice President JD Vance campaigned for Orbán and European figures like AfD lawmaker Matthias Moosdorf said those ties weighed on Orbán like a millstone.
- Analysts say Europe’s nationalist leaders are distancing to avoid blame for higher energy prices and diplomatic rifts linked to the Iran conflict, though some caution Hungary’s vote was driven largely by domestic economic discontent.