"Europe's heart is beating stronger in Hungary tonight," she posted on X, in English and in Hungarian.

"Hungary has chosen Europe. Europe has always chosen Hungary," she added. "A country reclaims its European path. The Union grows stronger."

Orban -- a nationalist and self-described "thorn" in the EU's side -- was at constant loggerheads with most other members of the bloc, particularly over foreign policy issues, but also on rule-of-law.

Also on Sunday, US Democrats celebrated the defeat of Orban, while President Trump's allies and Republican peers offered a more mixed response to the loss of the leader that Trump had endorsed.

Trump had backed Orban leading up to the vote, even speaking briefly last week at a campaign rally in Hungary, when US Vice President JD Vance telephoned his boss upon taking the stage.

But Orban lost power after 16 years as Hungarians voted in record numbers for ​a pro-EU course spearheaded by center-right rival Peter Magyar.

US lawmakers from both major parties congratulated Magyar on his victory. 

Some Democrats framed Orban's loss as a harbinger of things to come for the November midterm elections in the United States.

"Pay attention, Donald Trump. Wannabe dictators wear out their welcome," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said.

"Far-right authoritarian Viktor Orban has lost the election. Trump sycophants and MAGA extremists in Congress are up next in November," said U.S. House of Representatives Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

Republicans such as US Senator Roger Wicker viewed the Hungarian election result as a repudiation of Russian President Vladimir Putin, with whom Orban had cultivated ties over the years.

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