Hungary election: Netanyahu, Trump lose close ally in Europe as Orban defeated

Hungary has entered a new political phase after Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a close ally of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump, lost power.

Ending his 16-year rule, Orban's ruling Fidesz party fell behind the opposition Tisza party led by Peter Magyar in a closely contested election, whose results came out on Sunday.

Israel loses European steward

Orban had cultivated one of the closest relationships with the Israeli regime among the European Union's members.

He had described Tel Aviv as a strategic and "ideological" partner, with his ties with Netanyahu playing a central role in shaping Hungary’s foreign policy.

During his time in office, Hungary repeatedly used its veto power within the EU to block statements and sanctions targeting the regime’s atrocities, therefore, providing Tel Aviv with diplomatic protection.

Israeli officials are now expressing concern over a potential shift in policy.

Reports from the Israeli paper Yedioth Ahronoth indicated that officials in Tel Aviv closely monitored the election and warned that Orban’s defeat could remove the regime’s last bastion of protection within the 27-nation bloc.

Observers say Magyar, who is more closely aligned with broader European positions, could end Hungary’s use of the veto, allowing for more unified EU action, including criticism of illegal settlement expansion, settler violence, and military aggression.

Trump left without 'true friend'

The election result also represented a setback for Trump, who openly supported Orban during the campaign.

Just days before the vote, Trump urged Hungarian voters to back his "true friend" and said he would use the full economic power of the United States to assist Hungary in the event of Orban's victory.

Magyar sharply criticized those comments, denouncing Washington for interfering in Hungary’s internal affairs.

Iran embassy condemns Netanyahu’s visit to Hungary, calls Israel ‘threat to world peace’

The Iranian embassy in Hungary has condemned Netanyahu’s visit to the European country despite an active ICC arrest warrant for war crimes in Gaza, stressing that his regime is a threat to world peace and he should be imprisoned for committing all kinds of atrocities in the besieged enclave.

Implications for Hungary's stance on intl. legal affairs

Experts have also pointed to implications for Hungary’s position on international legal frameworks as a result of Orban's defeat.

His government initiated steps in 2025 to withdraw from the International Criminal Court, a move Magyar has pledged to halt.

If Hungary remains a member, it would be required to comply with arrest warrants issued by the court, including one against Netanyahu, affecting his ability to travel to Budapest.

Under Orban, Hungary had also opposed genocide charges against the Israeli regime concerning Tel Aviv's deadly atrocities in Gaza, another issue that could be revisited by the country's new political structure.

Analysts have, however, warned that, despite these developments, any policy shift might be limited compared to positions taken by countries such as Spain or Ireland.

They have pointed to the likelihood that stances adopted by larger EU states, including Germany and Italy, could continue to constrain more assertive bloc-wide measures.

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