Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni congratulated Peter Magyar after his pro-EU centre-right Tisza Party won Sunday's general election in Hungary while at the same time thanking Viktor Orban, whose 16-year spell in charge of the country has come to an end.
"Congratulations on the clear electoral victory to Peter Magyar, to whom the Italian government wishes good work," Meloni said via X.
"I thank my friend Viktor Orban for the intense collaboration of these years, and I know that he will continue to serve his Nation from the opposition too.
"Italy and Hungary are nations that are bound by a deep bond of friendship and I am certain that we will continue to collaborate in a constructive spirit in the interest of our peoples and the common challenges at the European and international level".
Elly Schlein, the leader of Italy's opposition centre-left Democratic Party (PD), said the outcome of the Hungarian election was a defeat for Meloni, the head of the right-wing Brothers of Italy (FdI) party, and for US President Donald Trump.
