Orban Era Ends: Hungary's Longtime Leader Loses Election

Viktor Orban, Hungary's prime minister for 16 years, has lost the country's general election. He was defeated by challenger Peter Magyar. Orban is often described as an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin within the European Union. His political party, Fidesz, had held a strong majority in parliament since 2010. During his time in power, Orban faced frequent criticism from other EU leaders. They accused him of weakening democratic rules in Hungary. The election result marks a major shift in Hungarian and European politics.