The election campaign has begun in Hungary: what Orban and Magyar say about Ukraine and the future of Budapest

In Hungary, the election campaign of incumbent Prime Minister Viktor Orban and opposition leader Peter Magyar has effectively begun. Both politicians outlined their approaches to the war in Ukraine and relations with the European Union, which differ significantly.

This is reported by Euronews .

Pre-election activity in the country has intensified, despite the fact that the official date for the parliamentary elections will be announced at the beginning of 2026.

Viktor Orbán began a series of speeches in the city of Győr, calling the events organized by pro-government circles “anti-war rallies.” Almost simultaneously, Péter Magyar presented his own election campaign, which he called “the road to victory.”

During his speeches, Orban touched on both domestic politics and relations with the European Union and the situation in Ukraine. He stated that peace between Ukraine and Russia can only be achieved with the participation of external forces, emphasizing that, in his opinion, “Ukraine is easier to coerce” because it depends on the European Union and does not have sufficient funding to wage war. At meetings with voters, Orban reiterated that he does not support Ukraine’s accession to the European Union, considering it a “threat” to Hungary, and referred to the results of public opinion polls.

Separately, he stated that he has high expectations for cooperation with the United States and Donald Trump, noting that the domestic and external situation requires caution and that “war is near.”

Instead, Péter Magyar focused on Hungary’s internal problems, noting that they were the source of complications in relations with international partners. He stated that the fifteen-year rule of Orbán’s party had led to corrupt practices, economic difficulties, weakening diplomatic ties and a significant deterioration in relations with Ukraine. Magyar expressed sympathy for the Ukrainians, emphasizing the historical parallels with the events of 1956 in Hungary.

During his speeches, Magyar criticized Orbán for refusing to hold public debates, saying the prime minister was “so scared that he doesn’t dare to meet for an hour and a half of discussion.” In response, Orbán called his opponent “a politician controlled from Brussels.”

Journalists recalled that parliamentary elections in Hungary are due to be held in April 2026. It is during these elections that the Fidesz party, which has been in power for fifteen years, may face the biggest political challenge of its tenure.

Recall that in the early elections to the Dutch parliament in 2025, the centrist party D66 gained a significant advantage , while the far-right forces of Geert Wilders suffered significant losses. Preliminary results, published by the ANP agency after counting 50% of the votes, show: D66 receives 27 seats in the 150-seat parliament, while Wilders’ Freedom Party – 25, losing 12 seats compared to the previous convocation.

It was previously reported that the left-wing MP Catherine Connolly won the presidential election in Ireland , receiving about 64% of the vote. She is known for her calls for Irish neutrality in Russia’s war against Ukraine and criticism of NATO, while repeatedly expressing support for the Ukrainian people.

By the way, in the parliamentary elections in the Czech Republic, which ended on October 4, the populist ANO party of the country’s former Prime Minister Andrej Babis, who had previously repeatedly expressed anti-Ukrainian views, won .

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