Nationwide parliamentary elections began in Hungary on April 12. Polling stations across the country are open from 6:00 to 19:00.
Five parties are taking part in the election. The main contest is between Viktor Orban’s Fidesz, with Orban serving as prime minister since 2010, and Peter Magyar’s opposition Tisza, which, according to opinion polls, has higher support among voters.
Politico’s aggregate data as of April 9 shows the opposition ahead by 11 percentage points: Fidesz has 39% support, while Tisza has 50%. Data cited by Reuters shows an even wider gap: 39% versus 52%.
The possibility of Viktor Orban losing has seriously worried Moscow. According to WP, Russian intelligence even proposed staging an assassination attempt on the Hungarian prime minister to boost his ratings. The Kremlin called that information fake.
Amid falling ratings, Orban intensified his anti-Ukrainian rhetoric, FT wrote. As part of that policy, Hungary blocked a European loan to Ukraine worth 90 billion euros and the 20th package of sanctions against Russia. In addition, a dispute erupted between Kyiv and Budapest over the Druzhba pipeline, through which Russian oil is supplied to Hungary. U.S. President Donald Trump voiced support for Viktor Orban several times.
The vote count must be completed no later than Saturday, April 18.
Hungary is a parliamentary republic. The government is formed through a parliamentary majority. Parliament is the central political body that passes laws, approves the budget, and oversees the government. Executive power is concentrated in the hands of the prime minister.