Hungarians Vote in Parliamentary Election Amid Tight Race for Orban's Fidesz

By Peter Murphy and Andras RostovanyI

*Published: 2026-04-12*

Hungarians voted on Sunday in parliamentary elections seen as competitive, with Prime Minister Viktor Orban's Fidesz party facing a challenge from the Tisza party after 16 years in power.

U.S. President Donald Trump has voiced support for Orban, Europe's longest-serving leader, who has maintained relations with Russia. The election has drawn international attention, especially in Europe.

Recent opinion polls indicate that Tisza, led by Peter Magyar, holds a lead over Orban's Fidesz. Magyar has pledged a "system change" and positions himself as pro-European conservative.

Both sides have claimed foreign interference during the campaign in the central European nation of 9.5 million people. U.S. Vice President JD Vance visited Budapest earlier this week to appear with Orban.

Orban, 62, is seeking a fifth term. He has described Hungary's political system as an "illiberal democracy" and has had public disagreements with the European Union over rule-of-law concerns and aid to Ukraine amid its conflict with Russia. Critics in Brussels have accused his government of restricting dissent and weakening judicial independence, leading to the withholding of billions of euros in EU funds.

Magyar, 45, a former government official, entered politics two years ago and has gained support amid slow GDP growth, though Hungary's unemployment rate remained around 4% in 2025, near historic lows. Critics, including Magyar, describe the electoral system as favoring Fidesz, but the party secured supermajorities in elections in 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022, with voter turnout ranging from 44% to over 70%.

Voter Perspectives

David Banhegyi, an 18-year-old first-time voter, told AFP after voting for Tisza in a Budapest suburb: "Now is our last chance to choose finally east or west. Do we want to be a normal democracy or turn back east with no point of return?" Voters continued to arrive steadily at the polling station.

After voting in Budapest, Magyar described the election as decisive. "We are choosing between East and West, propaganda or honest public discourse, corruption or clean public life, further decline and the complete collapse of public services, or bringing EU funds home and reviving the Hungarian economy," he told reporters.

Orban's government has clashed repeatedly with the EU, which has frozen funding over concerns about democratic standards.

During his Budapest visit, Vance criticized what he called interference by EU "bureaucrats." Trump has stated he would direct U.S. "economic might" to Hungary if Fidesz wins.

After casting his ballot, Orban warned of a "major crisis" for Europe. "Fortunately we have a lot of friends in the world. From America to China to Russia and the Turkish world," he said. He added that he would not let Brussels "deprive" Hungary of its "future and sovereignty."

Maria Toth, a 31-year-old stay-at-home mother of two, told AFP at a Budapest polling station: "It is so important for us that Viktor Orban stays in power. I feel Hungary is under siege from so many directions and big powers like Brussels are trying to dictate how we live. If he loses, I worry for my children's future."

Campaign Focus

Orban centered his campaign on Ukraine, which he has called "hostile" to Hungary amid its defense against Russia's invasion. He pledged to continue measures against what he terms "fake civil society organisations, bought journalists, judges (and) politicians."

Andrea Szabo, a senior research fellow at ELTE University's Centre for Social Sciences who has studied protests and civil society, told AFP that a Fidesz victory "will clearly mean... a shift towards authoritarianism."

Election Logistics

Polls opened at 6:00 a.m. (0400 GMT) and were set to close at 7:00 p.m. Analysts anticipate turnout around 75%, surpassing the prior record of just over 70%, according to projections cited by the National Election Office.

Preliminary results are expected shortly after polls close, but a close contest could delay the final declaration until ballot counting concludes next Saturday, per the National Election Office.

The opposition has expressed concerns that Orban might not accept the results if unfavorable. Orban has accused opponents of "an organised attempt to use chaos" and "colluding" with foreign intelligence. After voting, he stated: "The will of the people must always be recognised."

Magyar urged voters after casting his ballot to report any suspected vote-buying, intimidation, or violations while maintaining calm.

Leading up to the vote, allegations and counter-allegations proliferated, including leaked phone recordings that raised concerns in the EU about ties between Orban, his foreign minister, and Moscow.

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