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Viktor Orbán defeated, opposition wins Hungary's April election

politicsApr 24, 2026971

The Hungarian opposition defeated Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in the April 12 national election, ending his 16-year hold on power. The opposition ran a campaign linking Orbán-era corruption to everyday hardships and now plans to strip Orbán-linked firms of access to about €16.2 billion in EU defense loans. Brussels faces pressure to unfreeze billions in EU cohesion and recovery funds tied to rule-of-law concerns, revisit sanctions Hungary previously blocked against Russia, and reopen talks about Hungary joining the euro.

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