Viktor Orban, who has ruled Hungary for 16 years as a self-described "thorn" in the EU's side and a defender of "illiberal democracy", on Sunday conceded defeat to conservative Peter Magyar, who won a thumping majority in parliamentary elections.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Sunday offered his "heartfelt congratulations" to the winner of Hungary's parliamentary election Peter Magyar, whose Tisza party has defeated Prime Minister Viktor Orban's Fidesz.
"I am looking forward to working with you," Merz said in a post on the X platform addressed to Magyar, adding: "Let's join forces for a strong, secure and, above all, united Europe."
In a separate statement Merz said he had already called Magyar to offer his "best wishes for the great task" that lies ahead.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul also took to X to congratulate Magyar and noted that Hungarians "have chosen political change".
"I hope that the country now once again uses its great opportunities in and with Europe," Wadephul said.
Germany has in recent years sometimes openly expressed frustration with Hungary's "illiberal", pro-Moscow course under Orban.
In February, Wadephul said he was "appalled" by Hungary's blocking of a major European Union loan to Ukraine, as well as a new round of EU sanctions against Russia.
On the ousting of Orban, Merz called the results of Hungary's election a "heavy defeat" for "right-wing populism".
"Hungary has sent a very clear signal against right-wing populism across the whole world. In that respect, yesterday was a good day," Merz said.
Wadephul also hailed the record turnout in Sunday's election, which reached 77.8 percent at 6:30 pm local time.
"The impressive voter participation shows how important their hard-won democracy is to the people," he said.
Orban's defeat, in a vote that saw a record turnout, dealt a heavy blow to nationalists, including US President Donald Trump who supported him.
It also deprives Russian President Vladimir Putin of his most sympathetic ear inside the European Union.
Tens of thousands of jubilant supporters of Magyar's Tisza party cheered the results outside the party's election headquarters on the banks of the Danube in Budapest, waving Hungarian flags and dancing, as car horns sounded in the capital.
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With 98.15 percent of precincts counted, Tisza secured a two-thirds majority with 138 seats in the 199-seat parliament on 53.6 percent of the vote, according to official election results. Orban's Fidesz took 55 seats on 37.9 percent of the vote.
The results of Hungary's election were also welcomed publicly by the French president and Spain and the UK's prime minister. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni congratulated Magyar on this "clear electoral victory", but also thanked her "friend Viktor Orban for intense collaboration" over the years.
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