Cecilia Lei

Along the Danube River in Budapest, thousands gathered to celebrate the astonishing and consequential election results.

His opponent, Peter Magyar, a center-right social conservative, delivered a landslide win with record turnout.

Orbán quickly conceded and gave a short speech at his campaign headquarters.

Good evening, everyone.

He described the results as painful but clear.

He congratulated his opponent, but vowed he would never give up.

Not long after that, Magyar addressed the crowds gathered around the capital's parliament.

We did it, he told his fans, and said voters had achieved a miracle and reclaimed the country.

Amid the celebrations, one supporter shared with the BBC what Magyar's victory meant for the country.

Since 2010, Orban has transformed his country's politics at home and abroad with increasing authoritarianism.

Critics say he stacked the courts in his favor, hobbled the free press, and allowed rampant corruption to flourish.

Because Maguiar is on track to win a two-thirds majority, he now has the power to unwind much of that legacy.

He's promised to restore checks and balances to the country and bring the country closer to Europe.

Sky News' Ivor Bennett was in Budapest and told the network he won with a positive campaign.

According to the Washington Post, the celebratory crowds were filled with young people.

They said Maguiar earned their support by addressing a wide range of domestic issues.

Ivan Nagy was among them.

He's a writer with the Columbia Journalism Review who explained to the BBC that Maguiar would need to quickly rebuild relations with neighbors.

Orban became Putin's only real friend in the EU after Russia invaded Ukraine.

He consistently blocked efforts to support Ukraine and punish Russia.