Reactions from the top of the UDMR, after Viktor Orban lost the elections. The Union had bet on him

UDMR leaders congratulated Peter Magyar on his Tisza party's victory in yesterday's election which marked a record turnout, with more than 79.5% of voters casting their vote in the ballot that marked the end of the Viktor Orban era in Hungary.

UDMR leader Kelemen Hunor had a short message on Sunday night after Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban conceded defeat in the parliamentary elections.

“The elections in Hungary were held with a record turnout. A large number of Hungarians, both at home and abroad, exercised their right to vote. I congratulate the Tisza Party and Péter Magyar on the victory!” Kelemen Hunor wrote in a Facebook message.

The president of the UDMR, Kelemen Hunor, previously declared that he supports Prime Minister Viktor Orban in the parliamentary elections in Hungary.

“An era has ended, Hungary celebrates”

Senator Tánczos Barna, on the other hand, had an extensive message on Monday morning in which he recounted the scenes seen in Budapest the evening after the election, after the polls were closed and the votes were partially counted.

“An era has ended, Hungary is celebrating. What we saw tonight in Budapest is the real revolutionary atmosphere, of regime change,” said Barna, who described great joy in the Hungarian capital, where the opposition's victory was celebrated until dawn.

“We have entered a new era”

The UDMR parliamentarian stated that he did not expect Orban's failure. “I was wrong. I'm not the only one in this situation, but I didn't feel, I didn't see that huge force that led to the crushing victory of the TISZA party in Hungary,” said Barna, who made an analysis on Monday morning after the results obtained by the two formations in the neighboring country.

He described the Hungarian election result as the beginning of a profound change in political direction and values.

“We have entered a new era, which is practically the opposite of the previous one in almost all aspects,” Barna also conveyed, emphasizing the contrast between the new generation of leaders and politicians with long experience, as well as a “diametrically opposed” approach to the relationship with the European Union.

According to Tánczos Barna, the return of Fidesz to the opposition is not unprecedented. He recalled that the party had gone through such a period before, followed later by a return to government.

“Time will tell if this setback will be followed by a comeback. As I know the team, they will not give up,” Barna pointed out.

“This is democracy”

Barna highlighted the success of Tisza party candidates, led by Peter Magyar, in the single-member constituencies, where they scored around 87%, which, in his opinion, comes with “a huge responsibility” for the new government.

Barna also mentioned in his analysis the “rethinking” of relations between Hungary and the Hungarian communities outside the borders.

Finally, the politician underlined the difference in options among the voters: about 3.1 million Hungarians supported the change, while 2.5 million would have preferred the continuation of the Orban government.

“This is democracy,” said Tánczos Barna, who congratulated the winners and encouraged the disappointed to “keep your heads up.”