Excitement and disbelief mix on the streets of Budapest after record turnout drives opposition’s landslide victory
Péter Magyar vows to pursue those who ‘plundered’ Hungary, after election win
In a small plaza facing Budapest’s Nyugati train station, Gabor, 40, confessed that he was very, very hungover.
“I partied all night,” he said, laughing. “It was crazy, I thought Fidesz was going to win. Now I’m really hopeful.”
It was a hint of the mix of excitement, disbelief and hope that has gripped much of Hungary. After 16 years of Viktor Orbán’s efforts to transform the country into a “petri dish for illiberalism”, Hungarians overwhelmingly cast their ballots to oust Orbán and his Fidesz party from power in Sunday’s election.
