Viktor Orban, Hungary’s prime minister for 16 years and the longest-serving in the EU, faces potential defeat in the election on April 12, according to opinion polls. This election is critical for Hungary’s 9.5 million people and the future of right-wing populism, which Orban has represented. Orban previously won elections easily due to a weak opposition, but Peter Magyar, a former Orban supporter, has launched a new centre-right party named Tisza, which is gaining popularity and leading in polls without forming alliances with other parties. Magyar appeals especially to younger and urban voters but is also campaigning in rural areas where Orban has strong support.
This political shift is happening amid three years of economic stagnation and public discontent over inflation and the wealth of oligarchs close to Orban. Orban, 62, promotes an “illiberal Christian democracy,” advocating traditional family values, and has cracked down on independent media while opposing EU policies he deems unfavorable. He has framed the election as a choice between “war or peace,” claiming Magyar would escalate tensions with Ukraine, which the opposition denies.
If Magyar wins, he may improve relations with the EU and NATO but retain some of Orban’s positions on immigration. He promises to reduce corruption, enhance public media and judiciary independence, and introduce two-term limits for prime ministers. Financial markets will watch for changes that could unlock EU funds previously frozen due to concerns over Hungary’s democratic standards.
(Production: Krisztina Fenyo, Mate Csanadi, Anna Lubowicka, Thomas Holdstock) Copyright (c) 2026 Thomson Reuters
