“Welcome back, Hungary”: Europe, especially the EPP, celebrates Magyar

Brussels – “Hungary has chosen Europe“. The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, sums up the vote that has brought an era to a close: Viktor Orbán at the helm of the Hungarian government. Her comment on social media signals hopes for a completely new direction in relations between Brussels and Budapest. “Europe has always chosen Hungary,” von der Leyen added. These are no idle words, given the scandal surrounding espionage by the Hungarian authorities against EU institutions and the Orbán government’s collaboration with Russia at a time when the EU has severed all ties with Moscow.

 It is therefore no surprise that von der Leyen states that “a country is resuming its European path,” and that as a result “the Union is growing stronger.”

It is therefore no surprise that in Brussels, the day after the elections that brought the Orbán era to a halt (it is too early to speak of its “end”), the mood is one of celebration. “I look forward to working closely with Peter Magyar to make Europe stronger and more prosperous,” the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, said, buoyed by the prospect of a Hungary characterized by fewer vetoes and more cooperation. Roberta Metsola shares these hopes, and her comment is anything but perfunctory: “Hungary’s place is at the heart of Europe,” said the President of the European Parliament as she congratulated the election winner. Metsola’s words reiterate that, under Orbán, Hungary’s stance was less Eurocentric.

“The Hungarians confirm that our people-centered center-right policy wins elections“, states Manfred Weber, president of the European People’s Party (EPP) and of the EPP parliamentary group.  At the European level, it is above all the EPP that is celebrating, and it could not be otherwise. Tisza, Magyar’s party, is affiliated with the EPP, and its success gives the People’s Party another leader within the European Council, now 11 out of 27 (Austria, Croatia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Latvia, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, and Hungary), further consolidating the EPP’s influence and role in the 12-star legislature. “With their vote, Hungarian citizens are signaling their desire for a stronger Europe,” emphasizes Marco Falcone, deputy head of the Forza Italia delegation in the EPP Group at the European Parliament. 

For the European Liberals (RE), yesterday’s vote (12 April) “marks the end of a political cycle that for years has called into question the fundamental principles of European democracy,” and the election result is therefore “a turning point for the EU,” said MEP Sandro Gozi. In light of the end of the Orbán era, RE President Valerie Hayer emphasizes that from the new Hungary “we have clear expectations: a new leadership must rebuild democratic institutions, implement genuine reforms of the rule of law, establish robust anti-corruption mechanisms, and support Ukraine.“ 

The European Greens are also celebrating: “Hungary is back,” said the group’s co-chair, Terry Reintke. “After sixteen long years, the Hungarian people have chosen democracy and Europe over autocracy and Russia.” From the Socialist benches, it was the PD delegation leader in the European Parliament, Nicola Zingaretti, who rejoiced, interpreting the Hungarian vote in national terms: “The anti-European stance of Giorgia Meloni and Matteo Salvini is increasingly isolated and defeated, this time thanks to the Hungarian vote.”

Congratulations to Peter Magyar on his clear election victory; the Italian government wishes him every success in his work. I would like to thank my friend Viktor Orbán for his close cooperation over the years, and I know that he will continue to serve his country even from the opposition. Italy and…

— Giorgia Meloni (@GiorgiaMeloni) 12 April 2026

The Prime Minister has thanked the defeated Fidesz leader “for his close cooperation over the past few years.” Giorgia Meloni, in a message posted on X, notes that Orbán remains “my friend,” and says she is ready to work with the new head of government. “Italy and Hungary are nations bound by a deep bond of friendship, and I am certain that we will continue to cooperate in a constructive spirit in the interests of our peoples and in the face of common challenges at the European and international level.”

While the EU is breathing a sigh of relief, there are those who are already hinting that they wish to take up Orbán’s mantle: Robert Fico, the Slovak Prime Minister, said that “the Slovak government’s objectives remain unchanged,” starting with the “protection of energy interests,” which involves “the restoration of the Druzba gas pipeline.” Kyiv and Europe have been warned: even with Orbán leaving the scene, the old problems will not be entirely resolved.