Change ahead in Hungary?

#406

Can you imagine Viktor Orbán, Hungary’s longest-serving prime minister, losing power?

Hardly.

The next general (parliamentary) elections in Hungary are scheduled for 12 April 2026. This election will determine all 199 seats in the Hungarian National Assembly (Országgyűlés) for the new legislative term.

What does this have to do with Victor Orbán?

In Hungary, the prime minister is not elected directly by voters. Instead, it’s a parliamentary election process.

Tell me more.

Once Parliament is formed after the election, the President of Hungary formally nominates a candidate for prime minister. Parliament then votes on that candidate. A simple majority (more than half of all members of the parliament, i.e. at least 100 votes) is required.

What are Victor Orbán’s chances?

Viktor Orbán is a member of Fidesz (full name is Fidesz – Magyar Polgári Szövetség (Fidesz – Hungarian Civic Alliance). This national-conservative, right-wing populist party has been the dominant force in Hungarian politics since 2010, governing in alliance with the smaller Christian Democratic People’s Party (KDNP).

So?

Current polls suggest a tight and competitive race — and in many surveys, the ruling Fidesz party of Viktor Orbán is trailing or narrowly behind opposition forces.

What opposition?

Many polls show the new opposition party “Tisza” (Tisztelet és Szabadság) leading Fidesz in voting intention, sometimes by several percentage points. In a current aggregate trend, Tisza stands at about 45 % vs. 42 % for Fidesz/KDNP.

Why is Orbán losing support among voters?

For years, many voters backed Orbán because life felt predictable and stable. That perception has cracked.

More.

There was high inflation in 2022–2023; among the worst in the EU. Real wages were falling, and purchasing power was shrinking. And there is a weakness in the currency, the Forint, making imports and travel more expensive. Plus: Hungary depends heavily on EU funds. Because of rule-of-law disputes: Billions of euros are frozen. Many voters don’t love the EU, but they do notice when money doesn’t arrive.

So there is hope for change for the better in Hungary, right?

Right.

See you in Democracy.