Skip next section Orban challenger Magyar ‘cautiously optimistic’ over outcome of election
04/12/2026April 12, 2026
Orban challenger Magyar ‘cautiously optimistic’ over outcome of election
With vote counting underway in Hungary following a key parliamentary election, Peter Magyar said he was “cautiously optimistic” about beating Viktor Orban.
He said his stance was based on the high turnout, the pre-election surveys and other information available to his Tisza party.
Polls conducted before the Sunday ballot showed the center-right Tisza securing between 55% and 57% support. Under Hungary’s complicated electoral system, this could translate into a two-thirds majority in the 199-seat parliament.
Image: Denes Erdos/AP Photo/picture alliance
https://p.dw.com/p/5C3pY
Skip next section Polls close in Hungary as Orban faces toughest challenge in years
04/12/2026April 12, 2026
Polls close in Hungary as Orban faces toughest challenge in years
Millions of Hungarians cast their votes by 7 p. m. local time (1700 UTC) in what is already shaping up to be a historic election, with early estimates indicating a record-high turnout. Depending on the outcome, the polls could see Prime Minister Viktor Orban, the country’s veteran nationalist leader, lose his top job to challenger Peter Magyar after 16 continuos years in power.
The 45-year-old Magyar started his political career as Orban’s ally and a member of Orban’s Fidesz party, before breaking rank and eventually starting his own Tisza party. The tense political race is likely to determine Budapest’s future stance towards the EU leadership in Brussels and to the war in neighboring Ukraine, with incumbent Orban criticized as an ally of Russia’s Vladimir Putin.
https://p.dw.com/p/5C3mA
Skip next section Orban’s rival Magyar says ‘nightmare’ is about to end
04/12/2026April 12, 2026
Orban’s rival Magyar says ‘nightmare’ is about to end
Both Prime Minister Viktor Orban and his challenger Peter Magyar praised the record-high turnout and urged their voters to join the fray.
“A great many Hungarians have set out to change the system,” Magyar said in a video posted online. “Tonight, the nightmare we have endured for years will come to an end,” he added.
In turn, Orban tried to shift focus to security, continuing the theme of his campaign as a guarding of stability that keeps Hungary safe from foreign enemies and the Ukraine war.
“A great many people are going to the polls. That means only one thing: if we want to defend Hungary’s security, not a single patriot must stay at home,” Orban said.
Hungary’s Orban deploys AI-made scare ads in close election
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https://p.dw.com/p/5C3lv
Skip next section Turnout climbs to 66%
04/12/2026April 12, 2026
Turnout climbs to 66%
The turnout at Hungary’s election has continued to surpass previous records.
As of 3 p.m. local time (13:00 UTC), 66% of eligible voters had cast their ballots, compared to 52.7% at the same time during the last election.
The figures, published by Hungary’s National Election Office, show that 900,000 more votes have cast their ballots by afternoon compared to the 2022 election.
Long queues were seen at several polling stations around Budapest.
https://p.dw.com/p/5C3Zp
Skip next section Turnout hits record 54% at 1 p.m.
04/12/2026April 12, 2026
Turnout hits record 54% at 1 p.m.
Hungarians have been flocking to polling stations for the closely watched electionImage: Denes Erdos/AP Photo/picture alliance
Voters in Hungary have been turning out in record numbers on Sunday morning.
By 1 p.m. local time (11:00 UTC), more than half of the country’s 7.5 million eligible voters had cast their ballots, according to Hungarian election authorities.
Election data said turnout had reached 54.14%, which translates to more than 4 million voters.
The last election, in 2022, saw just over 40% turnout at noon.
https://p.dw.com/p/5C3HL
Skip next section High turnout could spell trouble for Fidesz in crucial election04/12/2026April 12, 2026
High turnout could spell trouble for Fidesz in crucial election
Voters have been turning out in high numbers so farImage: Denes Erdos/AP Photo/picture alliance
While it’s still early in the day, the first numbers indicate that today’s election might be headed for a record turnout.
By 11:00, just shy of 38% of voters had cast their ballots, including Prime Minister Viktor Orban and his challenger, Peter Magyar. “This is significantly more than the previous record set in 2002 – an election that Fidesz lost.”
The high turnout reflects the election’s high stakes for voters. That is especially true for those hoping for change after 16 years under Orban, who are feeling tense after months of unrelenting campaigning.
David, a 35-year-old software developer and musician living in Budapest, told DW: “I’m going to cry either way. Tears of joy if things change, or tears of sorrow if this system remains.”
Viktor Orban’s Fidesz party has also tried to mobilize its voters, with the prime minister holding a campaign-closing rally in Budapest on Saturday — traditionally an opposition stronghold.
People at the event expressed hope Orban would win, and did not want to read too much into polls indicating a solid opposition lead for months. “The silent majority will come out and cast their vote for Fidesz,” one attendee told DW.
https://p.dw.com/p/5C2zp
Skip next section WATCH: The man who ‘corrects’ government campaign posters in Hungary
04/12/2026April 12, 2026
WATCH: The man who ‘corrects’ government campaign posters in Hungary
In the runup to the April 12 general election, political posters have been plastered everywhere in Hungary — a busy time for activist Peter Heindl, who has for years been “correcting” government posters in an act of political resistance.
Hungary election: Man ‘corrects’ government campaign posters
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https://p.dw.com/p/5C2a7
Skip next section IN DEPTH: Hungarian election: Will Europe’s far-right help Orban win?04/12/2026April 12, 2026
IN DEPTH: Hungarian election: Will Europe’s far-right help Orban win?
Leading European populists are throwing their weight behind Viktor Orban’s reelection campaign. But the Hungarian prime minister lags behind the opposition due to talk of corruption, scandal and his Russian ties.
Learn more about whether Orban’s support from far-right Europeans will keep him in power in this report.
https://p.dw.com/p/5C2Zd
Skip next section IN DEPTH: How football has helped Orban keep power04/12/2026April 12, 2026
IN DEPTH: How football has helped Orban keep power
Orban is known for his love of football, but critics accuse him of using it as a political weapon [FILE: July 2024]Image: Sebastian Räppold/Matthias Koch/picture alliance
Viktor Orban is a football fanatic but has long used the sport as a political tool, both in Hungary and abroad. With polls predicting an election defeat, he could also lose his chance of hosting the Champions League final.
Learn more in this report by DW’s Matt Pearson.
https://p.dw.com/p/5C2WY
Skip next section Magyar: ‘A choice between East and West’
04/12/2026April 12, 2026
Magyar: ‘A choice between East and West’
V for victory? Magyar is eyeing a historic win over Orban, his former allyImage: Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto/picture alliance
Hungarian opposition leader Peter Magyar said on Sunday that voters in Hungary faced “a choice between East or West, propaganda or honest public discourse, corruption or clean public life.”
After casting his own vote, Magyar cut a confident figure, claiming the only question in Sunday’s election was not whether or not his Tisza Party would win, but whether it would win a simple or two-thirds majority in parliament.
“I urge all Hungarian citizens to exercise their right to vote,” he said, urging people to report any irregularities at voting booths because “election fraud is a very serious crime.”
Having campaigned on an anti-corruption ticket domestically, Magyar’s foreign policy could be slightly more favorable towards the European Union — if not entirely supportive.
Magyar told reporters that Hungary needed to unblock frozen EU funds and “strengthen Hungary’s position with the EU and NATO,” but also said he was keen to strengthen Budapest’s “Visegrad Four” cooperation with the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland.
https://p.dw.com/p/5C2lm
Skip next section Orban: ‘I am here to win’
04/12/2026April 12, 2026
Orban: ‘I am here to win’
Orban cast his ballot on Sunday morning in BudapestImage: Arpad Kurucz/Anadolu/picture alliance
Incumbent Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban cast his vote in Sunday’s parliamentary election, telling reporters: “I am here to win.”
Orban claimed Europe is “heading towards a major crisis” to which the continent needed to respond with “strong national unity.”
Amid concerns of election fraud in a country whose democratic institutions have been weakened during his 16-year tenure, Orban insisted: “The decision of the people must be respected.”
https://p.dw.com/p/5C2lY
Skip next section IN DEPTH: How much sway does Trump have over Hungarian voters?04/12/2026April 12, 2026
IN DEPTH: How much sway does Trump have over Hungarian voters?
Hungary’s election will reveal whether Donald Trump has the kind of sway needed to deliver on an international far-right project [FILE: November 7, 2025]Image: Evan Vucci/AP Photo/picture alliance
Get out and vote for Viktor Orban, US President Donald Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform in all caps ahead of the national elections in Hungary.
This Sunday, Hungarians will decide Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s fate at the ballot box.
The sitting prime minister has blocked as much European aid to Ukraine as he could, is openly critical of the European Union and has ingratiated himself with Trump. He has also presented himself as MAGA’s man in Europe.
The outcome of the Hungarian election will show whether the camaraderie between Orban and Trump worked at the hustings.
Read more on whether Trump’s endorsement could boost Orban’s numbers.
https://p.dw.com/p/5C2Qc
Skip next section WATCH: Is Hungary moving closer to EU values or down a more authoritarian path?04/12/2026April 12, 2026
WATCH: Is Hungary moving closer to EU values or down a more authoritarian path?
On April 12, Hungary is electing a new parliament, and voters will decide on the country’s future path: liberal democracy or an authoritarian model inspired by Russia.
Incumbent Prime Minister Viktor Orban has signaled his intention to end Western support for Ukraine and to distance Hungary from the European Union.
Meanwhile, Peter Magyar, leader of the country’s largest opposition party, Tisza, has pledged to tackle corruption and steer Hungary back toward a European path.
Fanny Facsar, senior international correspondent for DW, travels across Hungary in the weeks leading up to the election, capturing the mood of a nation at a political crossroads.
Hungary: Europe or an authoritarian path?
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https://p.dw.com/p/5C2Qf
Skip next section Polls open in Hungary04/12/2026April 12, 2026
Polls open in Hungary
Polls have opened at voting stations around Hungary.
Voting is scheduled to finish at 7 p.m. local time (0500 GMT/UTC).
https://p.dw.com/p/5C2P2
Skip next section Czech and Slovak leaders back Orban
04/12/2026April 12, 2026
Czech and Slovak leaders back Orban
Hungary’s Viktor Orban (R) and Slovakia’s Robert Fico (L) continue to buy Russian oil despite EU sanctions [FILE: February 12, 2026]Image: Omar Havana/AP Photo/picture alliance
Czech and Slovak leaders expressed support for Viktor Orban on the eve of Hungary’s parliamentary election.
“I have never met such a warrior for sovereignty and national interests of one’s country as Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban,” said Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico.
Under Fico, who returned to power for a fourth time in 2023, Slovakia has been a key ally for its neighbor, Hungary. Both countries keep warm relations with Moscow.
Czech populist Prime Minister Andrej Babis also voiced his support.
In a post on X, Babis wrote: “He (Orban) has always fought for a stronger Europe, one built on peace, sovereign nations, sovereign member states, competitiveness.”
“In turbulent times, choosing stability and proven leadership matters more than ever,” he added.
Since Babis staged a comeback last year after a stint in opposition, the Czech Republic has reduced its support for Ukraine. Following Hungary and Slovakia, his country also refused to join the EU’s 90 billion euro ($105.47 billion) loan for Kyiv.
https://p.dw.com/p/5C2SO
