Parliamentary elections were held in Hungary: what is known

Hungary held parliamentary elections on Sunday, April 12, which will determine the fate of the government that runs the country. It could be a turning point, as after 16 years in power, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban could lose it to opposition leader Peter Magyar.

According to Radio Liberty, turnout reached a record high in the runoff vote. Polls closed at 7:00 p.m. local time, and as of 6:30 p.m., turnout had reached 77.8 percent, surpassing the previous record of 70.5 percent in the 2002 election.

Opinion polls suggest that after 16 years in power, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban could lose his grip on power to opposition leader Peter Magyar. However, Orban has repeatedly refuted previous predictions.

According to the latest polls, Viktor Orban’s Fidesz party is lagging behind the new center-right force Tisza, led by Peter Magyar. The opposition’s rating is around 38-41%, which is 7-9% higher than the pro-government party.

As the Reuters news agency notes , during the election campaign, Orban presented Hungarians with a choice “between war and peace.” He stated that an opposition victory could allegedly drag the country into a war with Russia against Ukraine.

At the same time, the possible loss of the current leaders of the state could open access to a 90 billion euro loan from the European Union. Such a change of power would significantly affect the stability of the region, as Russia could lose its closest partner within the European community, which would significantly weaken its position in Europe.

While the government is intimidating the population with the risks of being drawn into a confrontation, Peter Magyar rejects such accusations, focusing on the future of the state. Discontent among citizens is growing due to three years of economic stagnation and a sharp increase in the cost of living. Many residents are outraged by the enrichment of oligarchs who have close ties to those in power.

Despite these factors, analysts consider the outcome of the vote to be unclear. The specific redistribution of electoral districts in favor of the Fidesz party and the active support of ethnic Hungarians in neighboring states create additional advantages for the current system. In the event of a change in political course, Ukraine will receive the necessary financial assistance, and Russia will lose its tools to influence EU decisions.

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