Who is Viktor Orbán? Trump ally concedes defeat in Hungary election

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán conceded defeat on Sunday, April 12, after the country's opposition party Tisza was projected to win the parliamentary elections in a landslide, marking a setback for his allies in Russia and President Donald Trump.

Orbán, a veteran nationalist leader, has led Hungary since 2010 after securing four consecutive election victories alongside his Fidesz party. During his 16 years in power, Orbán, 62, drew international criticism over various issues, including democratic standards, media freedom, and LGBTQ+ rights.

Critics have drawn comparisons between Orbán and Trump, citing what they characterize as attacks on governmental institutions, democratic backsliding, and the rollback of civil rights. The Hungarian prime minister has been considered a hero to many in the MAGA movement, and critics of Trump have also compared the president's second-term agenda to the playbook Orbán has used to consolidate power in Hungary.

But after three years of economic stagnation and soaring living costs, as well as reports that oligarchs close to the government are amassing more wealth, many Hungarians have grown increasingly weary of Orbán. Vice President JD Vance visited Hungary just days before the elections in a last-minute push to help Orbán.

Orbán and his Fidesz party faced a closely contested election on April 12. Ultimately, Tisza was set to win more than the two-thirds majority in parliament — handing a victory to Tisza party leader Péter Magyar, 45.

Viktor Orbán's 16-year rule marked by structural changes

Orbán was first elected prime minister in 1998 and held that role until 2002, USA TODAY previously reported. He took power again in 2010 and was reelected to a fourth term in 2022.  

After Hungary's center-right opposition Fidesz party secured a landslide victory in parliamentary elections in 2010, Orbán passed a new constitution in 2011 and implemented hundreds of legislative changes.

During the Fidesz party's first term, the government introduced measures that forced many judges into early retirement, prompting criticisms and objections from the European Union. Hungary’s Constitutional Court later annulled parts of that legislation.

Critics of Orbán have long said that changes to Hungary’s electoral system helped entrench Fidesz’s power. These changes included redrawing electoral districts, favoring larger parties, and extending voting rights to ethnic Hungarians living across central Europe — many of whom have continued to support Orbán.

In addition, Orbán's allies have held key positions in major institutions.

Since 2022, Orbán has frequently governed by decree under a state of emergency declared following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. His administration has also tightened oversight of non-governmental organizations and academic institutions.

Orbán has rejected accusations that his policies undermined democratic institutions, arguing instead that he received mandates from Hungarian voters to rewrite laws.

Hungarian hard-liner's conservative playbook

During his tenure, Orbán positioned himself as a defender of Hungary’s cultural identity. He strongly opposed immigration, particularly from Muslim-majority countries, and framed his policies as protecting Christian values against what he described as Western liberalism and "gender ideology and LGBT ideology."

His government amended the country's constitution to define marriage as a union between one man and one woman, and introduced restrictions on adoption by same-sex couples and transgender rights. Last year, Hungary’s parliament passed legislation allowing authorities to ban Pride marches.

Trump has previously praised Orbán for his hard-line approach to immigration, saying he's told European leaders they can learn from the Hungarian prime minister. Hungary implemented some of Europe’s toughest asylum policies following the 2015 European migration crisis.

At the time, Orbán ordered the construction of a fence along Hungary’s southern border, and his government rejected immigration as a solution to demographic decline. Orbán instead tried to address declining birth rates with family tax incentives.

In 2022, Orbán addressed the Conservative Political Action Conference in Texas. He delivered a speech, titled "How We Fight," that touched on re-centering Christian values in American politics to fighting off "progressive liberals." 

“You cannot fight successfully by liberal means,” he told the crowd, USA TODAY reported. 

‌The European ⁠Union and pro-democracy organizations have also accused Orbán of restricting press freedom, which Orbán's government has denied.

Orbán faces criticism over relationship with Russia

On the international stage, Orbán has pursued an "Eastern opening" to Russia and China. His government has encouraged business investments from those countries, as well as German automotive companies.

Though Orbán condemned Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine and supported European Union sanctions against Moscow, he also opposed restrictions on Russian energy shipments, arguing that they would harm the domestic economy.

Hungary is one of the largest remaining importers of Russian oil and gas in Europe. The country has come under fierce criticism for Orbán's relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Relations between Hungary and Ukraine have become increasingly strained over several issues ​, including energy shipments. Hungary previously blocked a proposed 90 billion euro European Union loan to Ukraine.

Contributing: Francesca Chambers, James Powel, and Kate Perez, USA TODAY; Reuters