After 16 years in power, Viktor Orban has acknowledged political defeat. His Fidesz party won just 55 parliamentary seats, while the opposition Tisza of Péter Magyar took 138 - a two-thirds majority, enough to amend the constitution. And for the first time in seven years, Hungary turned toward Brussels, not Moscow.

With 97.35% of votes counted, the picture is clear: Tisza got 45 seats from the list and 93 individual mandates. Fidesz - 42 from the list and 13 individual. The nationalist "Our Home" took only 6. Orban called Magyar by phone to congratulate him - Magyar himself announced it on Facebook.

Orban's statement: "The result is clear: we were not given the chance to govern." He thanked the 2.5 million Fidesz voters and promised "opposition support for the nation." Magyar, on the other side, sent a reconciliation message: "From today there is no better or worse Hungarian, only a Hungarian."

For Macedonia there is direct news - Magyar told a press conference his government will maintain good relations. Cooperation with Skopje will not be at risk. Hungary will not interfere in Macedonia's or any other country's internal affairs. Notable, given that Orban's government had spent recent years actively meddling in Balkan politics - and not always in the direction of democratization.

The international reaction was instant. Macron praised "a victory for democracy" and Hungary's EU choice. Ursula von der Leyen put it bluntly: "Hungary chose Europe." Merz and Plenković also weighed in. It's an admission that for 16 years Orban was a trend Brussels could not answer. Now Brussels is getting an ally back.

What does it mean for the Balkans? One fewer pro-Russian government inside the EU. One more pro-EU government in the southeast. And one fewer obstacle for those still in the waiting room - like Macedonia, deep in negotiations. EU accession is not won in Brussels - it is won at the ballot box. The Hungarians proved it today.