The polling stations have closed this Sunday at 19:00 hours in Hungary after one of the most intense election days of its recent history.
The Hungarians were called to elect the new composition of the National Assembly in elections that have been followed with enormous attention within and outside the country due to their potential to alter the political balance of Central Europe.
The appointment was exceptional for several reasons, but above all for one: Prime Minister Viktor Orbán faced the biggest challenge to his power in 16 years. His great rival, Péter Magyar, leader of the Tisza party and former Fidesz insider, has turned the campaign into a plebiscite on the wear and tear of the current Hungarian political system and on the place the country should occupy between Brussels and Moscow.
What is at stake in these elections in Hungary
What is at stake goes far beyond a simple change of Government. A change of majority in Budapest could modify Hungary's position within the European Union, alter its relationship with Russia, and unlock key debates on corruption, rule of law, and European aid. Reuters and AP agree that it is the most momentous election for the country in years and a vote closely watched by Brussels, Moscow, and Washington.
Orbán has focused a good part of his speech on stability, nationalism and the rejection of greater European involvement in the war in Ukraine, while Magyar has turned his candidacy into a banner of change, institutional clean-up and pro-European reorientation. That confrontation has triggered political tension and has fueled an exceptional mobilization from early on.
Record participation and maximum expectation for the count
The big news of the day has been the turnout. At 5:00 PM, the official figure had reached 74.23%, far exceeding the equivalent record of the 2022 legislative elections and placing the day at record levels. Several international media outlets have highlighted this mobilization as one of the decisive factors of the election.
That level of participation reinforces the idea that Hungary has experienced an election of maximum polarization and enormous symbolic weight. It also explains why the count will be followed with extraordinary attention during the coming hours. The National Electoral Office itself had already warned that, in case of a close result, the complete outcome could be delayed beyond tonight until 100% of the vote is processed.
When the first results are expected
With the polling stations already closed, Hungary now enters the decisive phase of the scrutiny. The first partial data will begin to arrive during the night, although the definitive result may take longer in a close scenario.
The Hungarian electoral authority has also recalled that the total processing of the vote, especially in a context of high participation and external vote, can be prolonged.
If Orbán falls, Hungary will open a new stage with effects that will go far beyond its borders.