British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the result a historic moment for European democracy. Even Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk did not hide his enthusiasm, saying on social networks: “Hungary, Poland, Europe. We are together again! Great victory, dear friends!”
The leaders of Norway, Finland, Estonia and Lithuania unanimously welcomed Hungary’s return to the NATO and EU community of values and security. Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo praised the will of Hungarians to be a constructive actor.
The change was also welcomed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi, who expressed readiness for joint meetings and building good neighborly relations, which will contribute to peace and stability in Europe.
The Hungarian elections spilled over into the USA. The leader of the Democratic minority in the US House of Representatives, Hakeem Jeffries, connected Orbán’s defeat to US domestic politics: “Far-right authoritarian Viktor Orbán lost the election. Trump’s bullies and MAGA extremists in Congress are next in November. Winter is coming.”
Slovak opposition: Fico and the populists are next in line
The highest Slovak constitutional officials have already reacted to the change in our southern neighbors, who choose a diplomatic tone and emphasize the need for further cooperation.
Slovak President Peter Pellegrini reminded that the Hungarian people decided in democratic elections. “I believe that relations between Slovakia and Hungary will maintain the high level they have had in recent years and will continue to be based on mutual respect, cooperation, joint membership in the European Union and the North Atlantic Alliance, good neighborliness and friendship,” the head of state said.
The Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic, Robert Fico, stated that he is ready for intensive cooperation with the new Hungarian Prime Minister, whom he also congratulated on his victory in the parliamentary elections.
The Chairman of the National Council of the Slovak Republic Richard Raši (Hlas-SD) also joined in congratulating the winner and the Tisza party. He expressed his belief that Magyar will strengthen good relations with Slovakia through his policy and that both countries will jointly participate in the support and development of the V4, the EU and NATO.
However, the results of the elections resonate especially in opposition ranks in Slovakia and the Czech Republic, where the fall of Viktor Orbán is seen as a broader signal for the Central European region.
The Progressive Slovakia (PS) movement congratulated Hungary on “freeing itself from Viktor Orbán’s regime” and added that Robert Fico must be next in line for electoral defeat. The leader of the Slovakian movement, Igor Matovič, chose similar rhetoric: “Today Fico lost in Hungary, next year he will win in Slovakia.”
The SaS party speaks of a historic success, saying that Magyar has difficult tasks ahead of him. However, liberals see this result as hope for Slovakia in the upcoming elections. The Christian Democrats from KDH, on the other hand, emphasize constructive cooperation and the promotion of conservative values, such as the protection of the family.
A similar atmosphere prevails in the Czech Republic. Former Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala described the result as good news for all of free Europe. “I am glad that populism and bowing to Putin have been defeated. I believe that this defeat is the beginning of the end of this style of politics in all of Central Europe. And I believe that Slovakia and the Czech Republic will follow Hungary,” Fiala wrote.
The chairman of the Czech ODS, Martin Kupka, and the chairman of the KDU-ČSL, Marek Výborný, agree that a period of strengthening European cooperation is coming for Hungary. “Hungary, welcome back to the center of Europe,” Výborný said to Budapest.
