Putin and Trump ally Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has conceded election defeat in Hungary after 16 years in power.

Viktor Orbán has conceded defeat to his rival after preliminary results show he was defeated in national elections. The Hungarian PM has congratulated his rival Péter Magyar, who is on course to win Hungary's parliamentary elections. Held on Sunday, April 12, a record 77% of Hungarians turned out to vote in what is seen as one of the most significant elections for the European Union.

Preliminary results project Magyar's Tisza party winning 136 seats in Hungary's 199-member parliament, compared with 56 seats for Orbán's Fidesz. This signals a clear victory for Magyar and an end to Orbán's 16-year rule famous internationally for illiberal policies that have curtailed democratic rights, strengthened ties with Russia, and led to frequent vetoes of EU decisions, including financial aid to Ukraine.

Although the results are not yet final, Orbán has already conceded defeat following what he described as a "painful" outcome.

"I congratulated the victorious party," Orbán told supporters in Budapest. "We are going to serve the Hungarian nation and our homeland from the opposition as well." Just minutes before Orbán's speech, Magyar also posted on Facebook, confirming he had received congratulations from his rival.

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