Hungarians decide whether to end 16 years of Orbán rule and elect rival

Hungarians decide whether to end 16 years of Orbán rule and elect rival

Hungarians are voting on Sunday in a contest that could end Viktor Orbán’s 16-year tenure as prime minister and reshape relations with Europe, the US, and Russia. The race centers on Péter Magyar, a challenger who left the ruling Fidesz party to form a grassroots movement. Despite Orbán’s confident tone in his final address to supporters, most polls suggest Magyar’s Tisza party holds a strong advantage.

Voting occurs from 06:00-19:00 local time (04:00-17:00 GMT), with early results expected in the evening. Orbán, a five-time elected leader, has vowed to secure a decisive win, claiming the opposition would “stop at nothing to seize power.” Magyar, however, urged voters to resist “Fidesz pressure and blackmail,” emphasizing a desire for political change.

“We are going to achieve such a victory that will surprise everyone, perhaps even ourselves,” Orbán declared to thousands in Budapest’s Castle Hill square.

Magyar’s campaign promises a reset with the EU and a distancing from Russia, contrasting with Orbán’s 16-year rule described by the European Parliament as a “hybrid regime of electoral autocracy.” His final rally in Debrecen drew larger crowds than Orbán’s in the capital, signaling shifting public sentiment.

Orbán remains a key ally of US President Donald Trump, who has praised him as “a true friend, fighter, and WINNER.” The Fidesz leader focused on his critique of Brussels and Ukraine, asserting, “We don’t give our children, we don’t give our weapons and we don’t give our money.” Supporters echoed his message, chanting, “we won’t let that happen.”

The economy’s struggles and a series of scandals, including Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó’s pre- and post-EU summit talks with Russia, have challenged Orbán’s dominance. Analysts at Budapest’s Political Capital think tank note that Hungary’s top pollsters point to a “huge lead” for Tisza, though analysts had previously expected Fidesz to narrow the gap as the election approached.

Magyar seeks more than an absolute majority—100 seats in the 199-member parliament—to reverse Fidesz’s constitutional changes affecting judicial independence, media ownership, and other societal structures. Hungary’s position at the bottom of Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index underscores the stakes.

While the electoral system has historically favored Fidesz, recent shifts include figures from the police, military, and business criticizing the ruling party. Róbert László of Political Capital highlights a growing public discontent with Orbán. However, Nézőpont Institute suggests Fidesz could still win if it captures 22 of the 106 constituencies labeled as battlegrounds.

Györ, Hungary’s sixth-largest city near the Slovak border, is a critical target for Tisza. Orbán’s strategy to reclaim these seats may hinge on Fidesz’s ability to mobilize voters, particularly blue-collar workers, who make up a larger percentage of his base compared to Magyar’s supporters. The final outcome, delayed by the non-immediate counting of 5% of votes, remains uncertain.